iPhone 7 May Have Dual SIM Trays for Use With Multiple Carriers

[MacRumors]

Chinese smartphone repair shop Rock Fix recently shared photos of alleged iPhone 7 components on microblogging service Weibo, potentially including dual-SIM trays that would allow for the smartphone to send and receive calls and messages from multiple phone numbers (via Engadget).

Dual SIM technology would also enable iPhone 7 users to use multiple carriers based upon network coverage, pricing, and other competitive differences. A customer in the United States, for example, might elect to use AT&T for nationwide voice and text messaging and T-Mobile for cheaper and unlimited 4G LTE data.

Dual SIM support would differ slightly from the Apple SIM, which allows cellular iPad users to easily switch between different short-term data plans from select carrier partners using one SIM card. The Apple SIM is particularly useful for traveling abroad, with coverage in more than 90 countries and territories.

A number of Android-based smartphones feature dual SIM support, particularly in Asia, including select models sold by Alcatel, BLU, Bluboo, HTC, Huawei, Lenovo-Motorola, LG, Meizu, Samsung, UMI, and Xiaomi. The OnePlus 2, OnePlus 3, and OnePlus X also have dual SIM trays.

Rock Fix turns out to be the same source of a previously leaked Lightning cable assembly for the iPhone 7 that retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, despite widespread rumors claiming that Apple will switch exclusively to Lightning and Bluetooth audio output for wired and wireless headphones respectively.

The smartphone repair shop shared further pictures of the aforementioned Lighting cable assembly alongside purported images of a dual-lens camera and 256GB SanDisk flash storage appropriate for the iPhone 7 series. There are also a trio of display components that may be from early prototyping stages.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 7 series in September. The smartphones are expected to retain iPhone 6s-like designs with faster Apple A10 processors, dustproofing and waterproofing, repositioned antenna bands, and faster LTE and Wi-Fi. A dual-lens camera and 3GB of RAM may be exclusive to the 5.5-inch model.

The addition of a Smart Connector, stereo speakers, a touch-sensitive Home button, and a new Deep Blue color option have also been rumored, but it is not entirely clear which features are destined for the iPhone 7 series, no longer planned, or reserved for the alleged OLED-based iPhone with glass casing in 2017.

Article Link: iPhone 7 May Have Dual SIM Trays for Use With Multiple Carriers

 

[penajmz]

Rumors are all over the place this time a round!

I personally wouldn't care for this.... I don't want two phone bills. Thanks!

 

[2457248]

yea sure, given the efforts to reduce the number of sim trays from 1 to 0...

 

[gpat]

That could make me switch to iOS. It has been increasingly hard to get my hands on premium dual SIM Android flagships because of carrier interference, and Apple would undoubtly shatter this barrier.

 

[Moccasin]

While treating this rumour with a pinch of salt, it'd suit me as it would allow me to ditch my crappy Nokia work phone and use my iPhone instead. When on leave or at weekends I could de-activate or apply do no disturb to all work calls.

 

[Fabian90]

carriers would freak out. in europe you could get a super cheap data plan for example (even with roaming 4 free) and still have a local number. but why would you need a hardware sim for it? wouldn't that be easier with eSIM? i don't believe this rumour..,

 

[macduke]

Removes headphone jack, adds second sim card tray. "It's what our customers wanted!"

 

[axiomreality]

My bet is that there will be 0 SIM trays before there is 2. This stuff can all be done in software, why waste precious internal space.

 

[MH01]

I doubt it . This is not a feature the masses need nor want.

 

[ProjectManager101]

One number for your wife, another for the mistress. There is a market for that.

 

[Vengeful]

Rumors are all over the place this time a round!

I personally wouldn't care for this.... I don't want two phone bills. Thanks!

I would depending on how it works, it would be nice to not have to carry both my personal and work phone around. Having both on one phone but being able to turn off or put to sleep the work phone when needed would be key.

 

[pwhitehead]

You would figure by now apple would finally put a damn micro SD slot in the phones, but...

 

[Jsameds]

I thought Apple were supposedly getting rid of SIM cards?
[doublepost=1466435082][/doublepost]

You would figure by now apple would finally put a damn micro SD slot in the phones, but...

Slow, unreliable and insecure storage. No thanks.

 

[jmh600cbr]

I would bet some serious money that this won't happen.

 

[alexandr]

personally i would love that, but that so does not seem like the direction apple is heading...
[doublepost=1466435192][/doublepost]i remember old chinese iphone knockoffs that had two sim trays...

 

[Kashifnawaz85]

If it's true, I'll switch to iPhone.

 

[Berti10]

Wait, you are telling me, that apple first kicked off the SIM-Card for a micro-Sim, and then kicked that for a nano-SIM and then introduced the Apple-SIM, which allows to switch carriers and so there is no need for a physical card. And now a Dual-SIM? C'mon MR, this doesn't happen!

 

[69650]

Note to Editor: It's not just low-end and mid-range Android phones that have dual SIM versions. The Galaxy S7 and the latest HTC smartphones both have dual-SIM versions. And you can buy them all over the world not just India and China. Did anyone even research this before they wrote this article?

 

[MrGimper]

I remember years and years ago when Orange had a feature called Line 2, where you could have 2 numbers on the same SIM. Each number could be billed to a different place. I never understood why this was scrapped as opposed to being further adopted by the industry.

Then again, Orange had "Wildfire" too......

 

[pat500000]

Dual monthly payment? Or being able to choose any carrier?

 

[lobbyist]

Dual SIM would require an almost entirely revamped OS to support it. And needless to mention that dual SIM has significant impact on battery life.

I can't foresee Apple ever adding this feature to the iPhone. No chance whatsoever.

 

[kanyehameha]

Apple would rather sell you two phones instead of one phone with the ability to serve as two phones. I don't think dual-sim iPhones is something Apple would do (unless they want to cater for some Asian markets like India where lots of people have dual-sim phones).

 

[bladerunner2000]

Should be expandable STORAGE instead. Better yet, make it the way samsung did with one of the sim slots to also act as expandable storage. WHY the hell is Apple so stupid with NOT offering expandable storage?

 

[virtualSIM]

I was hoping it would have no physical SIM trays at all.

 

[pika2000]

Dual SIM is unheard of in the US, but it's almost the norm, and expected, in Asia, especially emerging markets. I can't wait for a dual-SIM iPhone if Apple keeps the broad LTE bands supports. Most dual SIM Android phones are region specific where the number of bands supported is usually limited to the region.

I personally wouldn't care for this.... I don't want two phone bills. Thanks!

Just because you have dual SIM, doesn't mean you have to pay two phone bills. Besides, most people in emerging markets use prepaid plans, where they just top up the SIM as needed.

That could make me switch to iOS. It has been increasingly hard to get my hands on premium dual SIM Android flagships because of carrier interference, and Apple would undoubtly shatter this barrier.

Hmm, depending on where you are. In countries like Indonesia, pretty much all the flagships (Xperia Z5, Galaxy S7) are available in dual SIM. Roughly all the Chinese phones, flagship or not, are dual SIM.