Samsung introduces new dual-SIM phone

MANILA, Philippines - Samsung may be a relative latecomer to the dual-SIM handset arena, but it’s definitely the heavyweight contender in this affordable and ever-popular category.

In a country where it is commonplace to have two or even three mobile numbers for one user, it’s a no-brainer business decision to have dual-SIM handsets. For consumers, it’s the best and most economical way to leverage the many plans and promos that the various mobile networks have to offer.

Yet in the face of such an exciting trend, tech-hungry — and text-hungry — consumers often have to compromise. Either they have to manually toggle from SIM to SIM, meaning missed calls or mis-sent text messages, or they have to settle for the flimsier designs sported by some of the popular low-priced options out there.

Korean electronics giant Samsung is declaring an end to those days of compromise by introducing the new Samsung Champ Deluxe DUOS, an affordable dual-SIM phone that boasts Samsung’s trademark quality and reliability.

With its premium metallic finish and signature curves, the Champ Deluxe DUOS adds a touch of red-carpet sophistication to the dual-SIM class.

Its beautifully sleek form nestles comfortably in the hand as you take advantage of the ample 2.8-inch TFT touch screen to snap photos, browse through your personal music collection, or even connect to the world through the built-in ChatON instant messaging service — a feature one would normally expect to be found only on high-end smartphones.

Dual-SIM climbs to even more advanced heights as the Champ Deluxe DUOS sports Samsung’s own “Dual SIM, Dual On” technology. This means that unlike some competitor dual-SIM phones that require manual SIM selection, both SIMs remain active at all times, ensuring that one is always reachable, always accessible, no matter which SIM one prefers to use.

There is no need to swap in and out from one SIM to another, or rebooting your mobile phone to stay in the loop with friends on different networks.

The Champ Deluxe DUOS’ embedded ChatON instant messaging service enables users to talk and connect with anyone else in the ChatON world for free, so long as one has a data plan activated.

There is no longer any need to budget one’s SMS allocation, or to rely on basic text characters to speak one’s mind. Communication is now richer and more vibrant with such features as customizable “skins,” amusing “emoji” emoticons to relay one’s mood and feelings, shared calendars and contacts, and even group chats to keep everyone in the know in real time.

And unlike other free instant messaging services that cut across just a limited number of operating systems, the Champ Deluxe DUOS’ ChatON software cuts broadly across multiple popular platforms: Android, bada, certain versions of Java, and even a PC desktop, to name a few.

The Samsung Champ Deluxe DUOS is equipped with all the basics you need to be a junior multimedia whiz: a 1.3-megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom, Bluetooth connectivity, video recording and playback, FM radio capability, a built-in music player, and 20MB of user memory that’s expandable to 16GB.

The Dual-SIM Samsung Champ Deluxe DUOS retails for P4,190.