Dual-SIM handset sales expected to double this year

Although there isn't a large market for it here in the US, sales of dual-SIM handsets in the global market are expected to double in 2010. This comes from industry sources citing data from market research firm Strategy Analytics that the segment was able to display a strong growth of 74 percent in 2009. Projected data is showing that total sales of dual-SIM handsets will reach 100 million units in 2014 which will account for 7 percent of global handset sales. When you look at it on a global scale, manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Motorola, HTC, and Acer already have launched dual-SIM related devices. The world's largest phone maker, Nokia, appears to ready its launch of its first dual-SIM model by the second quarter of 2010 – sources reveal that it'll be bound for the Chinese and Russian markets. Despite these projected figures, the US market looks to be the last in the world to aggressively  sell these unique handsets – it'd be a nice thing to see, but wireless carriers still have a lot of power surrounding the types of handsets they want to see make it to their lineups.

source: DigiTimes