Google Play Store still lacks SMS App with dual sim support

Play Store is the native Google's Android Market place from where users can download free and paid apps, games, ebooks, music and even movies. It boast >600,000 apps available in Play Store which is a big number. But many apps in the Store are bogus and not useful at all. Anyway what I wanna point out here is as of today out of all the apps available in Play Store, there is no solid SMS app which support dual sim system.

Recently there is a steep rise in the market share of Dual SIM Android mobile phones. Samsung has launched >10 new Android phones with dual sim support including Galaxy Grand Duos, Galaxy Grand Quattro, Galaxy S Duos, and many other small and medium segment Android Smart Phones. In india companies like Micromax, Lava, Zen etc are making all Android phones dual sim. With all these handsets it makes a very large share of dual sim sets in the market.

Also Read: Android SMS app with dual sim support now on Google Play

But it looks like App developers are yet to add dual sim support to their SMS apps. None of the popular SMS app support dual sim feature.

Few of the most popular SMS apps on android market are Go SMS Pro, Handcent SMS & Chomp SMS.

Ok so lets also review the 3 best Android SMS Apps briefly...

1. Go SMS Pro



Go SMS Pro is one of the most popular SMS app available in the android market with 50,000,000+ downloads. Recently Go Dev team included ads or sponsored msg (can be deactivated by paid upgrade) in the free version of Go sms app, which caused slight decrease in its popularity.

Free Features
- 200+ personalized themes （keep increasing)
- Over 800 emoticons for messaging
- Private Box to better protect your privacy
- Free SMS and MMS
- SMS blocker to smartly block spam messages
- Auto-reply
- Automatic scheduled outgoing message

Pro Features
- Advanced Private Box for Gesture Unlock, Entrance Hiden, Notification in Disguise
- Free to enjoy all the Getjar paid themes (Regular price is $1.99 each)
- Unlimited cloud storage space for message backup
- Free MMS up to 10M file size, Up to 30 days retention period
- Support disabling sponsored messages

Pros:

a. Highly customizable.
b. Lots of free themes from theme shop and Theme maker where you can make ur own wallpaper theme.
c. SMS Popup with quick reply
d. Private Box to hide/lock certain sms
e. Go chat - free messenger
f. Go MMS - send free pictures, videos etc
g. Blacklist SMS
h. Facebook Chat plugin
i. Very active developer team
j. SMS backup and restore. - helpful if you are changing the mobile phone.

Cons:

a. MMS sending still buggy on many devices.
b. Large file size (~12-15mb after installation, problem specially for older mobiles with limited internal memory.
c. Ads (including airpush ads) on free version - annoying as they appear on the status bar all the time.
d. No dual sim support.

Go SMS Pro team was successful in making dual sim support for some older versions of Android. But Go SMS does not support dual sim for android versions 4.1+

2. Handcent SMS



Handcent SMS is one of the oldest SMS app available for Android. It is also highly customizable sms app.

The following lists some of Handcent's most popular features:

• Additional security options allow you to password protect and hide individual messages with the Privacy Box or secure all of your messages. These protections apply regardless if they are viewed in Handcent SMS, the stock Android messaging app, or any third party applications!
• Handcent’s Contact Locator plugin helps you quickly locate your friends using GPS!
• Group sending features capable of extending Android’s SMS limitations of 100 messages per hour up to 1,100 messages per hour
• Optional SMS Popup notification and other notification customizations such as unique notification sounds, vibrate patterns, backgrounds and themes for individual contacts
• Customize every aspect of your Handcent SMS application with countless themes and skins available for free download from the Handcent Network. New themes are added daily!
• Mimic the unique messaging layouts of other device manufacturers such as HTC’s Sense, Motorola’s Blur, or even the iPhone!
• Backup Security powered by the Handcent network allows you to backup all your Handcent’s settings, SMS messages and MMS messages to your My Handcent Online account and restore them if you reinstall Handcent or if you reset your device or upgrade to a new one.
• Handcent MMS+ allows you to circumvent Android’s MMS limitations and send up to 10 files at 25 megabytes each for a total message size of 250 megabytes! This means sharing higher quality photos, videos, and music!
• Better MMS support and picture resizing that resolves Android compatibility issues with some carriers such as those in the UK
• Auto-splitting feature for messages over 160 characters for users on CDMA networks such as Verizon Wireless
• Additional font packs to further customize your SMS messages are available as downloadable plugins
• Integrated Blacklist feature with the ability to filter incoming SMS and MMS messages by origin and help block SPAM
• Manage drafts and undelivered messages
• Schedule tasks to deliver SMS and MMS messages at a specific time or regular intervals such as daily, weekly or monthly
• Full support for vCards allows you to send, receive, import and export them with Handcent SMS
• Share beautiful Handcent eCards with family and friends to mark holidays, birthdays, etc.
• Send and receive fun emoji icons and smileys to other Android Handcent users as well as iPhone users. Once exclusive to the iPhone, this integrated feature of Handcent SMS may now be enjoyed by Android users. Additional emoji are available as free, downloadable plugins!
• Group Mms with iphone,useful for US networks
• Handcent Talk service,send FREE messagess/picture to android & iPhone (Comming soon) users easily,fast and security,just register free and login with your handcent account,add buddy then Handcent talk today!
• Universal messaging that send classic SMS/MMS and Handcent Talk with contact in one converstaion

Pros:

a. Customizable
b. Popups with quick reply
c. Free MMS with pics and videos
d. Small and fast.
e. Blacklist

Cons:

a. Does not support dual sim
b. Cant move to SD card (for older devices. SD card feature is not available in JB 4.1)
c. Ads (admob) in settings page.

3. Chomp SMS

This is the third best SMS app for android users. Its also pretty good with many customizations and popup support etc. Its free version has limited features and is ads supported. There is a paid upgrade available. But alas this app also does not support dual sim.