May 31, 2010 at 7:45 pmTwo SIM cards for one
Overview of a communicator that can work directly with two SIM-cards.
Few people know that the well-known company Gigabyte has a unit engaged in the development and creation of communicators - all this is called GSmart. Once I already wroteabout one of their “pipes”, but relatively recently, at one of the company's conferences, in the literal sense of the word, “distributed” new items. I decided to write about one of the models, because unlike hundreds and thousands of other devices, it differs in one nuance - inside the engineers provided a place for two SIM-cards at once. I’ll immediately warn you that the model works on the basis of Windows Mobile 6.5, but ... but you’re wondering how the work of two SIM cards in the device is organized? ) Otherwise, the model has a lot in common with that communicator, about which I already wrote, therefore I will not particularly repeat myself (in particular, about the interface).
So, the model is called the Gigabyte GSmart S1205 Cougaror just the GSmart S1205. Not the most “even” index of the model, so it was easier for me to remember by the word “Cougar” - it was with the modeling of the car of the same name (Ford Cougar) that I once began to learn 3D Studio Max.
A few words about the device. It is built on a processor that is not common among communicators - MediaTek MT6516 with a clock frequency of 416 MHz. The amount of memory (RAM) - 128 MB (74 MB available), built-in flash memory (ROM) - 256 MB (126 MB available). Of the communication capabilities - work in three bands of GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz), support for GPRS / EDGE, Bluetooth (2.0 + EDR), Wi-Fi (802.11b / g) and GPS (with aGPS support). There is a slot for microSD cards (up to 16GB), and interaction with a computer is via a microUSB connector. All this lies in a fairly compact body - dimensions are 55x111x13 mm, and weight - 115 g.
The device is sold in a compact white package, inside which is another, but already black. The sizes seem to hint that inside a large number of "buns" you should not wait.
And it’s true - inside, in addition to the phone, there is a wired stereo headset, a charger (with a removable plug), a USB-microUSB wire, a battery, a non-personalized SIM card from Megaphone and a stylus with a brief guide. Everything is standard - it’s strange that there is no microSD card with any pre-installed, for example, navigation software.
The stylus is telescopic and it has a place in the device’s body ... but it’s not so needed - the device’s screen does not have a relief frame, so it’s easy to get into the corner of the screen with your finger. The battery is lithium-polymer at 1320mAh (3.7V, 4.88Wh). And about Simka - as far as I know, you can only go online through it, because I did not need this, I decided not to even unpack it.
In appearance - the most common communicator. Large screen (almost the entire front side), a couple of buttons under them .... there is nothing that distinguishes this device from many others. Therefore, I will describe what it is) Above the large screen (3.2 inches, resolution 240x400) is a medium-sized speaker, and below it are two touch buttons (not occupying the active part of the display) and three ordinary ones (green with a red tube and “ok”) . The first touch button calls the “Start”, and the second is more useful - allows you to configure the parameters of both SIM cards with one touch.
On the left are two buttons for volume control and a hole for the cord (it’s strange that they are not drilled in many new devices), on the right there is an unprotected memory card slot and a camera button. The buttons are quite recessed - they just won’t press.
Above is just the power button, and below are microUSB and minijack connectors (for headphones), a stylus hole and a microphone “point”.
On the back side, absolutely nothing but the eye of a 3-megapixel camera. The case (in particular, the back cover and all sides around the perimeter) are made of velvety material that is pleasant to the touch - it is almost not easily soiled and, unlike chrome inserts, should not peel off. But the front side ... creaks a little when pressed hard, but even if you just touch it, fingerprints remain.
As for SIM-cards - they are inserted one above the other into an almost imperceptible slot, which is not blocked by anything (except the cover) - accordingly, operators can be changed without even having to remove the battery. For reliability, sims are blocked by a special slider (as in the photo before kat). I climbed into my pockets, scrubbed at the guts, broom at the barns ... barely found two SIM cards with the numbers I knew and a non-zero balance. I insert and press "on".
Until fully operational, the device turns on in 30 seconds. More precisely, the first Ra failed to measure time - the phone asked to enter a PIN code from one of the SIM cards.
The appearance of the desktop and the interface (called Gigabyte GSmart Touch) is generally very similar to the regular WM-shell, but with minor improvements related mainly to finger optimization - I wrote about this in detail in the previous review. Although no, something almost immediately catches your eye - there is no usual “tray” with icons, and in its place two large antenna icons flaunt. And below are two such signatures, they say Megafon and MTS.
In addition to starting, pressing the central button brings up three working screens that can be switched sequentially with the “stroke” of a finger - all applications are dumped there. A similar organization of icons is used a lot where, in the same iPhone or Samsung Jet, which I also wrote about.
I take a home phone and try to call one of the numbers - everything works. I reset and call the second SIM card - it also works. Well, that's nice) Now we need to figure out how to call from all this design.
And in this regard, everything is simple - after pressing the “green button” a standard dialer appears, but it already has two “call” buttons. I try to press both - everything is correct, calls from both numbers, and the main problem is to remember which of the SIM cards from which operator. And this is a matter of time, partially dependent on the memory leak. Access to the Internet and sending messages occurs only from the Namba Van SIM card, and in order to swap them, you will have to select “Network Router” each time in start-up, in which to indicate which of the SIM cards is more important.
The right touch button (below the screen) calls up the SIM card settings menu - in fact, this is the most common service menu. For each card, you can configure certain services and more everyday things - the type of call (melody, vibro, etc.), the operating mode (or idle, hehe). And from the start menu, from now on, not one SIM-menu, but two.
The interface for setting the alarm clock, displaying the status of the battery and controlling wireless interfaces has been slightly redesigned - it has become more convenient, you can’t miss a finger.
The speaker is pretty good in sound quality, but quiet. I did not even try the standard headset, because It’s definitely not worth the wait. But he stuck the other headphones - they went perfectly behind the headset, which made the built-in fm radio work.
There is a camera, but something she was not impressed with. It is called through the start-up or with a hardware button, but the frame itself is made with the button. The focus is quick, like something clicks ... but here the photos in terms of quality (sharpness, color reproduction and noise) lag behind what the analogs are now offering. And the camera interface is not the most convenient - small buttons scattered around the entire perimeter of the screen.
Example of camera photos: The operating time was pleasantly surprised, despite the fact that batteries of the same capacity are now installed almost everywhere. Judging by the test with IXBT, it is able to work 2.5 days in music playback mode (with the screen off) or 7 hours in GPS mode! Unfortunately, physically I can’t afford to check these numbers, but I believe - for the entire time of the tests it was charged only 1 time and then for decency.
It works with two SIM-cards.
There is a hole for the lace) But what, now it’s a rarity;
Long battery life;
Large screen, memory card slot;
Good performance;
It is an adequate price;
No support for 3G networks;
Weak equipment - no memory card, no cover, no mount in the car ... a pity;
Not the most responsive screen - at least after the capacitive display it was quite uncomfortable;
The camera does not have a flash, and the quality of the photos is very mediocre;
The Windows Mobile operating system has not been attributed to either the minuses or the pluses - let everyone decide for himself)
The price is 11-12 thousand rubles. This is more expensive than frankly Chinese crafts for two SIM cards, but unlike them, GSmart really works and is supported by the manufacturer. Is it a lot or a little? I agree that for this money you can buy a good phone from a more famous manufacturer - the market is huge. But how many of them are capable of two networks at once? So there is no particular choice.
* UPD * In Yandex Market I looked which of the communicators are friends with two operators at once - there were only 4 models. In addition to GSmart, this is either the unknown Sitronics SDC-106, or the expensive Acer Tempo DX900 and Eten Glofiish DX900.
The communicator can be safely recommended to those who are not afraid of Windows Mobile and those who want to be able to be in touch with two operators at once. Admit that keeping one handset in your pocket and being accessible by two numbers at the same time is not at all the same as holding a second SIM card under the cover and periodically pulling out the battery to swap them. During the time that I tested the device, I even got attached to this “feature” - I use Megafon myself, but there are a lot of friends on MTS. I didn’t calculate the savings, but calls on my network are in every way cheaper - therefore, the savings can be really economical.
Otherwise, this is ANOTHER device on the platform, which is slowly losing ground. Good performance, a very reliable and convenient case, good out-of-the-box software equipment ... but I did not find anything outstanding (except for a long battery life) in it. So, for example, just for the sake of two sims, I would never have switched from the HTC HD2 I loved that I’ve been using for six months now and it's like new. Therefore, here you need to decide for yourself what is more important - checkers or go. Although I would not refuse the opportunity to be connected in two networks at once - in my current situation, the money in the account literally disappears.
By the way, along with the GSmart S1205 model, GIGABYTE then announced another device, but already based on the Android OS - GSmart G1305 Codfish. It operates in four GSM bands, supports HSDPA (900/1900/2100 MHz), and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS modules on board. The remaining specifications are a 3.2-inch (320x480) screen, 256MB RAM and ROM, a microSD card slot, a 5MP camera and a Qualcomm MSM7227 processor with a clock frequency of 600MHz.
Well and more. At that meeting, I got to know Anatoly Wasserman - a very interesting person! :) I will try to invite to the site - fiercely furious plus for invite)
Success!
Few people know that the well-known company Gigabyte has a unit engaged in the development and creation of communicators - all this is called GSmart. Once I already wroteabout one of their “pipes”, but relatively recently, at one of the company's conferences, in the literal sense of the word, “distributed” new items. I decided to write about one of the models, because unlike hundreds and thousands of other devices, it differs in one nuance - inside the engineers provided a place for two SIM-cards at once. I’ll immediately warn you that the model works on the basis of Windows Mobile 6.5, but ... but you’re wondering how the work of two SIM cards in the device is organized? ) Otherwise, the model has a lot in common with that communicator, about which I already wrote, therefore I will not particularly repeat myself (in particular, about the interface).
So, the model is called the Gigabyte GSmart S1205 Cougaror just the GSmart S1205. Not the most “even” index of the model, so it was easier for me to remember by the word “Cougar” - it was with the modeling of the car of the same name (Ford Cougar) that I once began to learn 3D Studio Max.
A few words about the device. It is built on a processor that is not common among communicators - MediaTek MT6516 with a clock frequency of 416 MHz. The amount of memory (RAM) - 128 MB (74 MB available), built-in flash memory (ROM) - 256 MB (126 MB available). Of the communication capabilities - work in three bands of GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz), support for GPRS / EDGE, Bluetooth (2.0 + EDR), Wi-Fi (802.11b / g) and GPS (with aGPS support). There is a slot for microSD cards (up to 16GB), and interaction with a computer is via a microUSB connector. All this lies in a fairly compact body - dimensions are 55x111x13 mm, and weight - 115 g.
Options and appearance
The device is sold in a compact white package, inside which is another, but already black. The sizes seem to hint that inside a large number of "buns" you should not wait.
And it’s true - inside, in addition to the phone, there is a wired stereo headset, a charger (with a removable plug), a USB-microUSB wire, a battery, a non-personalized SIM card from Megaphone and a stylus with a brief guide. Everything is standard - it’s strange that there is no microSD card with any pre-installed, for example, navigation software.
The stylus is telescopic and it has a place in the device’s body ... but it’s not so needed - the device’s screen does not have a relief frame, so it’s easy to get into the corner of the screen with your finger. The battery is lithium-polymer at 1320mAh (3.7V, 4.88Wh). And about Simka - as far as I know, you can only go online through it, because I did not need this, I decided not to even unpack it.
In appearance - the most common communicator. Large screen (almost the entire front side), a couple of buttons under them .... there is nothing that distinguishes this device from many others. Therefore, I will describe what it is) Above the large screen (3.2 inches, resolution 240x400) is a medium-sized speaker, and below it are two touch buttons (not occupying the active part of the display) and three ordinary ones (green with a red tube and “ok”) . The first touch button calls the “Start”, and the second is more useful - allows you to configure the parameters of both SIM cards with one touch.
On the left are two buttons for volume control and a hole for the cord (it’s strange that they are not drilled in many new devices), on the right there is an unprotected memory card slot and a camera button. The buttons are quite recessed - they just won’t press.
Above is just the power button, and below are microUSB and minijack connectors (for headphones), a stylus hole and a microphone “point”.
On the back side, absolutely nothing but the eye of a 3-megapixel camera. The case (in particular, the back cover and all sides around the perimeter) are made of velvety material that is pleasant to the touch - it is almost not easily soiled and, unlike chrome inserts, should not peel off. But the front side ... creaks a little when pressed hard, but even if you just touch it, fingerprints remain.
As for SIM-cards - they are inserted one above the other into an almost imperceptible slot, which is not blocked by anything (except the cover) - accordingly, operators can be changed without even having to remove the battery. For reliability, sims are blocked by a special slider (as in the photo before kat). I climbed into my pockets, scrubbed at the guts, broom at the barns ... barely found two SIM cards with the numbers I knew and a non-zero balance. I insert and press "on".
Until fully operational, the device turns on in 30 seconds. More precisely, the first Ra failed to measure time - the phone asked to enter a PIN code from one of the SIM cards.
The appearance of the desktop and the interface (called Gigabyte GSmart Touch) is generally very similar to the regular WM-shell, but with minor improvements related mainly to finger optimization - I wrote about this in detail in the previous review. Although no, something almost immediately catches your eye - there is no usual “tray” with icons, and in its place two large antenna icons flaunt. And below are two such signatures, they say Megafon and MTS.
In addition to starting, pressing the central button brings up three working screens that can be switched sequentially with the “stroke” of a finger - all applications are dumped there. A similar organization of icons is used a lot where, in the same iPhone or Samsung Jet, which I also wrote about.
I take a home phone and try to call one of the numbers - everything works. I reset and call the second SIM card - it also works. Well, that's nice) Now we need to figure out how to call from all this design.
And in this regard, everything is simple - after pressing the “green button” a standard dialer appears, but it already has two “call” buttons. I try to press both - everything is correct, calls from both numbers, and the main problem is to remember which of the SIM cards from which operator. And this is a matter of time, partially dependent on the memory leak. Access to the Internet and sending messages occurs only from the Namba Van SIM card, and in order to swap them, you will have to select “Network Router” each time in start-up, in which to indicate which of the SIM cards is more important.
The right touch button (below the screen) calls up the SIM card settings menu - in fact, this is the most common service menu. For each card, you can configure certain services and more everyday things - the type of call (melody, vibro, etc.), the operating mode (or idle, hehe). And from the start menu, from now on, not one SIM-menu, but two.
The interface for setting the alarm clock, displaying the status of the battery and controlling wireless interfaces has been slightly redesigned - it has become more convenient, you can’t miss a finger.
The speaker is pretty good in sound quality, but quiet. I did not even try the standard headset, because It’s definitely not worth the wait. But he stuck the other headphones - they went perfectly behind the headset, which made the built-in fm radio work.
There is a camera, but something she was not impressed with. It is called through the start-up or with a hardware button, but the frame itself is made with the button. The focus is quick, like something clicks ... but here the photos in terms of quality (sharpness, color reproduction and noise) lag behind what the analogs are now offering. And the camera interface is not the most convenient - small buttons scattered around the entire perimeter of the screen.
Example of camera photos: The operating time was pleasantly surprised, despite the fact that batteries of the same capacity are now installed almost everywhere. Judging by the test with IXBT, it is able to work 2.5 days in music playback mode (with the screen off) or 7 hours in GPS mode! Unfortunately, physically I can’t afford to check these numbers, but I believe - for the entire time of the tests it was charged only 1 time and then for decency.
Control weighing
It works with two SIM-cards. There is a hole for the lace) But what, now it’s a rarity; Long battery life; Large screen, memory card slot; Good performance; It is an adequate price; No support for 3G networks; Weak equipment - no memory card, no cover, no mount in the car ... a pity; Not the most responsive screen - at least after the capacitive display it was quite uncomfortable; The camera does not have a flash, and the quality of the photos is very mediocre; The Windows Mobile operating system has not been attributed to either the minuses or the pluses - let everyone decide for himself)
The price is 11-12 thousand rubles. This is more expensive than frankly Chinese crafts for two SIM cards, but unlike them, GSmart really works and is supported by the manufacturer. Is it a lot or a little? I agree that for this money you can buy a good phone from a more famous manufacturer - the market is huge. But how many of them are capable of two networks at once? So there is no particular choice.
* UPD * In Yandex Market I looked which of the communicators are friends with two operators at once - there were only 4 models. In addition to GSmart, this is either the unknown Sitronics SDC-106, or the expensive Acer Tempo DX900 and Eten Glofiish DX900.
Total
The communicator can be safely recommended to those who are not afraid of Windows Mobile and those who want to be able to be in touch with two operators at once. Admit that keeping one handset in your pocket and being accessible by two numbers at the same time is not at all the same as holding a second SIM card under the cover and periodically pulling out the battery to swap them. During the time that I tested the device, I even got attached to this “feature” - I use Megafon myself, but there are a lot of friends on MTS. I didn’t calculate the savings, but calls on my network are in every way cheaper - therefore, the savings can be really economical.
Otherwise, this is ANOTHER device on the platform, which is slowly losing ground. Good performance, a very reliable and convenient case, good out-of-the-box software equipment ... but I did not find anything outstanding (except for a long battery life) in it. So, for example, just for the sake of two sims, I would never have switched from the HTC HD2 I loved that I’ve been using for six months now and it's like new. Therefore, here you need to decide for yourself what is more important - checkers or go. Although I would not refuse the opportunity to be connected in two networks at once - in my current situation, the money in the account literally disappears.
By the way, along with the GSmart S1205 model, GIGABYTE then announced another device, but already based on the Android OS - GSmart G1305 Codfish. It operates in four GSM bands, supports HSDPA (900/1900/2100 MHz), and has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS modules on board. The remaining specifications are a 3.2-inch (320x480) screen, 256MB RAM and ROM, a microSD card slot, a 5MP camera and a Qualcomm MSM7227 processor with a clock frequency of 600MHz.
Well and more. At that meeting, I got to know Anatoly Wasserman - a very interesting person! :) I will try to invite to the site - fiercely furious plus for invite)
Success!