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After filing the necessary patent earlier this year, Apple's iPhone may now have a dual sim variant available soon. iPhone is the only major smartphone that doesn't have dual-SIM variants as of this time. However, Apple may be joining the rest of the world's smartphone manufacturers on the dual-SIM functionality bandwagon soon.

Dual-SIM technology patents filed. A Forbes report last week says that documents filed with China's State Intellectual Property Office (CSIP) described a feature that would allow the iPhone to store two phone numbers. The application was published in September 2016, six months after it was submitted.

A certain Li Su is listed as the inventor on the CSIP filing whose LinkedIn profile shows that she is a principal cellular software architect at Apple. Li Su, along with wireless cellular engineers Ming Hu and Guojie Dong, is also listed on a patent recently awarded to Apple for dual-SIM card technology in the US earlier this week.

Two other patents were recently granted to Apple. One involves slimmer speakers and the other one describes interwoven light-transmissive materials.

Currently, the only way an iPhone is able to accommodate two SIM cards is through a third-party dual-SIM adapter where one end goes into your iPhone's SIM card slot and the other is flipped over the back. Though visually unappealing, this can be easily hidden by utilizing phone case.

Although Apple files technology patents all the time, many never end up in its products. There has been a growing need for Apple to take on dual-SIM functionality for its iPhones as dual-SIM smartphones are really big in the Asian market.

Given that Apple markets its iPhones in partnership with US telecom carriers, offering dual-SIM variants would put their relationship at risk. However, Apple may be able to break ground in other markets such as India or China.

It isn't clear whether or not Apple will offer dual-SIM capable iPhones in the future. There hasn't been any official word from the tech giant on this at all.