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Why Dual SIM Phones Are Popular In China
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Why Dual SIM Phones Are Popular In China

Qiu Yihan
Wellestudio163, 2018
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Apple’s new iPhone offers dual SIM support, allowing users to have two mobile numbers and providers on one device. The concept may be foreign to US consumers, but dual SIM has been a standard function in Chinese phone brands. In fact, as several tech observers claim, Apple may have added the function specifically to compete in the China market. So why do so many Chinese consumers need two phone numbers? Qiu Yihan, writing for NetEase’s WeChat wemedia account Wellestudio163, provides an eye-opening dive into how the development of China’s telecommunications industry led to this phenomenon. 

Take-Aways

  • Operating two phone numbers with separate data plans on the same phone has been a staple for Chinese smartphone users since the early 2000s.
  • In the early days of mobile, opening a second line was the cheapest option for people traveling and calling in different parts of China.
  • When 3G technology became available, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the license for the use of WCDMA – the standard for 3G technology – to China Unicom instead of the market leader China Mobile. 

About the Author

Qiu Yihan writes for NetEase’s social commentary WeChat wemedia account Wellestudio163. 

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