Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be dual-SIM, Galaxy Watch gets roaming eSIM

By David Flynn, August 14 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be dual-SIM, Galaxy Watch gets roaming eSIM

Samsung's new Galaxy Note 9 smartphone will be sold in Australia as a dual-SIM card model while the Galaxy Watch's embedded eSIM will allow international roaming under new plans from Optus, Telstra and Vodafone.

The twin travel-friendly moves show the South Korean tech colossus plans to not only takes the fight to Apple but shift that battle onto a global stage.

How to buy a dual-SIM Galaxy Note 9

At a media briefing in Sydney to launch the company's 2018 Galaxy portfolio, Samsung Australia's mobile chief Garry McGregor revealed to Australian Business Traveller that the Galaxy Note 9, which goes on sale on August 24 from $1,499, will be available in both single-SIM and dual-SIM models.

McGregor told Australian Business Traveller that while the conventional single-SIM Galaxy Note 9 would be supplied to telco partners such as Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, a dual-SIM version would be available through the 'open retail' channel where phones are sold outright to consumers.

Those Note 9s would see a 'hybrid slot' capable of holding either a microSD memory card (at up to 512GB capacity) or a standard nanoSIM card.

This will allow business travellers to keep their Australian number active while overseas in order to take incoming calls and text messages, while at the same time using a prepaid local SIM card for use by local contacts along with generous data allowances.

In the dual-SIM Galaxy Note 9, both SIM cards will be able to connect at 4G speeds rather than one being hobbled to 3G – indeed, the Note 9 can tap into turbo-charged '4G LTE' networks such as Telstra's 4GX and Optus' 4G Plus, to deliver download speeds as high as 1.2Gbps and upload channels of 200-300Mbps.

The Galaxy Note 9 also packs a 20% larger battery (at 4,000mAh) than the Note 8 without significantly adding to its heft, and connects directly to the HDMI port of desktop or wall-mounted monitors– without needing the seperate docking station of the Galaxy 8 series devices – to run Android productivity apps, present a slideshow presentation or watch a video.

The digital S-Pen also doubles as a low-power Bluetooth remote controller for slideshow presentations, in addition to its conventional role as a stylus the Galaxy Note 9's 6.4-inch display.

Galaxy Watch eSIM set for global roaming

Samsung's Galaxy Watch, due for local release on October 4 from $549, will sport an embedded SIM module, or eSIM, for international roaming.

McGregor confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the company is working with Optus, Telstra and Vodafone on the launch of dedicated eSIM global roaming plans.

These will not only allow the Galaxy Watch to share the same mobile number as the user's smartphone while working independently to that device, but will permit overseas roaming as part of the monthly plan.

While the competing Apple Watch also features an eSIM, global roaming is not available under of the Australian carriers.

Other improvements to Samsung's sixth-generation smartwatch include 80 to 120 hours of battery life between charges, and the debut of a smaller model with a 42mm face and 30mm screen, compared to the standard 46mm dial and 33mm display.

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

Etihad - Etihad Guest

06 Apr 2012

Total posts 125

By the description in the article it seems that the Note 9 will be a DSDA (Dual SIM Active) device where both SIM cards can be active at the same time versus the more common DSDS (Dual SIM Standby) ..... That's going to be a feature welcomed by a lot of international business travellers who spend a lot of time on the phone and internet.

11 Sep 2018

Total posts 1

I don't suppose you have any further updates regarding the release of the LTE watch? Telco release dates? I've tried Telstra, but they are blaming Samsung.

See here : https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Samsung/Samsung-Galaxy-Watch-46mm-LTE-Availability-in-Australia/m-p/777105/highlight/true#M5356

From what I've read here, Samsung have announced e-SIM LTE versions in Australia, so maybe it's not Samsung with the foot on the hose ...

I'd love to get one ... Keen even. Keen enough to be an early adopter - issues, bugs, feedback and all.

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2553

Nothing more to share at this stage, we'll be taking a closer look at the Galaxy Watch upon its local release.

Hi All, I just got a Note 9 from Vodafone and very surprised after receiving it that it is not dual SIM. The girl in the shop told me it was going to be but when it turned up I could not work out the eSim business. I went to another Vodafone shop and was told " only if you buy from Samsung is it dual Sim. Not Australian Telco's will have it as a dual dual sim"

I am taking it back tomorrow.


Just an update. It appears that the eSIM Galaxy Watch will only be supported by Telstra. This is according to Samsung's own site. I love to get one if Optus supported it. Any further confirmation would be appreciated..


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