Anti-Smartphone Phone Launched For Technophobes 437
geek4 writes "A Dutch company has launched what it calls 'the world's simplest phone,' targeting users who are sick of new-generation models. Only capable of making and receiving calls, John's Phone is dubbed the world's simplest mobile phone, specifically designed for anti-smartphones users. It does not provide any hi-tech features. No apps. No Internet. No camera. No text messaging. All you have to do — in fact, all you can do — is call, talk and hang up."
Jitterbug (Score:5, Informative)
Funny, I seem to recall TV ads a few years back for a series of phones — "Jitterbug", as it was called — that effectively did just this. Complete with the "old person afraid of smartphones" use case example. Though with screens (just to see the numbers as you dial them).
Re:Jitterbug (Score:3, Informative)
I bought one for my grandfather, it's a POS.
50% of the time he doesn't receive calls.... they just hang up. And he's in a major city with otherwise great cell coverage.
And it's not something he's doing, I've tested it myself.
Re:Wait? No phone book? (Score:3, Informative)
I think even the now disappearing "basic phones" have some sort of phone book/directory function. That's not mentioned in the summary. Also, I see it has no display of any kind. That is pretty bad. Even if this were an "anti-smartphone" there should be some sort of confirmation of the numbers pressed. That's just silly.
You mean like all those phones made between 1900 and 1989 that only clicked or beeped? Even then you had to have your ear to the speaker.
Re:Expensive Price (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Wait? No phone book? (Score:5, Informative)
I think even the now disappearing "basic phones" have some sort of phone book/directory function. That's not mentioned in the summary. Also, I see it has no display of any kind.
The phone has a display for incoming calls. The address book exists in the form of a pad of paper on the back of the phone you can write on.
I'm serious.
Check it. [johnsphones.com]
Re:Expensive Price (Score:4, Informative)
Jitterbug (Score:5, Informative)
In the US, we already have such a phone, called a Jitterbug, and it is aimed at the geriatric market...
Re:Annecdote (Score:1, Informative)
Samsung E1081T
Hell no. That thing has a tiny 4-way button with OK at the center, and the display is unreadable without backlight or in direct sunlight. These entry-level phones really add nothing of value above pure phone functionality, but what they add still messes up the usability. There's no need for a color screen if you can't make it reflective so that it is readable in full sunlight. There's no need for a 4-way button if you can't make it big enough for man-hands.
Re:Expensive Price (Score:3, Informative)
>Yeah, sold only by the scam-artists at ECost.
C'mon, really???
http://www.google.com/search?q=Motorola+MOTOFONE+F3&hl=en&prmd=sv&source=lnms&tbs=shop:1&ei=GGjkTMikFozEsAOOz_Bm&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CB0Q_AU&biw=1108&bih=995 [google.com]
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Jitterbug (Score:1, Informative)
Jitterbug is not GSM compatible. You have to buy your service through Jitterbug, which is expensive if you don't want the extras they provide.