If you weren’t aware what a dual SIM mobile phone is, don’t worry, you are not alone and we doubt you will be the last, a mobile phone that can take - and use - two SIM cards at once.

Using a mobile abroad can be a costly affair: calling, receiving calls; text messaging, receiving text messages - can all add up when you are roaming.

This is where the usefulness of a dual SIM device comes into play: it can house your regular SIM card, used by your existing mobile phone, and a local one, obtained wherever you are holidaying. That will allow you to still receive calls and text messages, only you can use the Internet, without paying a small fortune – through the second, local SIM.

The local tariffs are far cheaper than the roaming costs you would normally pay, with the added benefit of being contactable wherever you are. Most phones of this ilk can intelligently disable Internet access on one card and only use the other one, along with making calls from one and not the other. They can have a similar feature set to your existing device, if not identical (in some cases) and would be a welcome addition to your holiday suitcase.

It runs Android Jelly Bean and has a user interface familiar to anyone that has used Samsung mobile phone, where it sports a larger 5-inch screen – ideal for web use, movie playback or reading that holiday book on the beach.

Our best-selling dual SIM capable phone is the Acer Liquid Gallant Duo, priced at just £139.99. It too runs a familiar version of Android, in Ice Cream Sandwich, and has a more compact 4.3-inch display, allowing it to be slipped into any pocket.

A Smartphones dual sim could be ideal as a family mobile phone for the holidays, or one that could be shared with family or friends whenever they individually travel – the possibilities are endless, with the cost savings speaking for themselves.

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