Entries RSS · Where I want mobile phones to (d)evolve towards
Hey, Vincent here. I fell in love today, which is perfect timing, considering the date. Only it wasn’t a woman, it was a phone. Because my last phone suddenly broke, I was forced to quickly get another, and because I usually need to read about 10 websites before deciding, I bought the cheapest unlocked phone available: The Motorola Motophone for €30!!!
That you can get an unlocked phone for that price is a miracle alone. However, when I asked about it, the clerk warned me that it was such a simple phone that I would probably not like it. Not like it? I love it!
These are the features of the phone.
- You can call with it.
- You can SMS with it.
- It has a clock and an alarm.
- It can ring and it can vibrate.
- It has a speaker-function.
- You can (auto) lock the screen.
- It has a monochrome screen.
- It is very thin, around 0.5 cm.
And that’s it!
In many ways, it’s the perfect geeks‘ phone. The interface reminds me of my first DOS-based computer, except everything happens on 1 line. Yes, even SMSs have to be read on one line. To access functions like sms-ing, you have to use a function key, there is no visual menu. To access the advanced functions, like enabling auto-locking the keyboard, you have to enter a code. And when you first turn it on, a voice greets you (which you can keep), giving you verbal feedback on your inputs.
And with all of this, I am perfectly happy. Why? Because 99% of the time I don’t use all the features other phones have. I stopped using calendars, because I prefer to have a paper-based one and don’t want to have to remember to sync it (+ the small keys suck!). I don’t listen to music on it, because I have an iPod. I rarely play games on it, except if I’m bored, and I try to never be bored. And I don’t use the internet, because no provider has perfect coverage. And I won’t even go into phone-providers’ shameful roaming service. With this phone, I’ll just get a prepaid card in whatever country I’m in.
A year ago, I thought about getting an iPhone. No more! I am convinced that it and the iTouch are inferior iPods (in terms of user-interface) and I don’t want to spend €500 for a phone and enslave myself for two years.
Instead of becoming mini-computers and media-centres, I want my phone to get smaller and simpler, a quick communication tool that does things my computer cannot. Whatever happened to the phone in a watch? Now that is a design and philosophy that I can live with!
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That’s a top post Vince: people tend to forget the real purpose of a phone indeed. That is to say make & receive phone calls.
Vincent “back to Monochrome Screen” Van Wylick has just killed Robert Scoble business model. Brilliant !
Actually, I have a lot of respect for Scoble’s business-model. But using a tool with a 45 min. battery-life does seem kind of ridiculous.
Monochrome all the way, baby!
It’s actually a good reality check to realize that Nokia et al still make most of their profits on these low-end phones. Sure, one reason is the huge emerging markets, but anyway here in the interwebs the tendency is to focus solely on the high-end.
Of course… it’s always the certain minorities that make the most noise. Those damn Westerners with their first-world problems…
Btw. as your reporter for the emerging markets, I can tell you that the monochrome screen is actually made of a technology similar to e-ink. Which makes it even geekier
(and better for battery-life, I guess)
Hey folks. Nice post, less is more…
But I must admit my life would be a little harder without the mobile internet access of my smartphone. A simple one, with just e-mail, rss & google maps.
It’s like having a giant newspaper in a tiny pocket, I’m using it at anytime, and especially when I have time to lose : in a post office lane, waiting for a date that is late…
Less than 15 meg of data / month, 10€ on my career.
It has been pretty simple and efficient, for more than a year, until my geek side convinced me to upgrade my smartphone to windows mobile 6… (c://format + no more sync)
[...] Remember that I was the one raving about a €30 contract-less phone not too long ago, the Motorola Motophone (which I have since given to my mother, who hates it). Since moving to Luxembourg, less than a [...]