Minimalist Cell Phones?

Trizor asks: "Most cellular telephones these days are loaded with features: cameras, broadband quality video, Internet, etc. but there are still people who want to just make phone calls. So I ask Slashdot: Are there any World-Compatible GSM cellular telephones that don't offer much beyond calling and an address book?"

Comments

Choose a quad band phone...

[Futurepower(R)]

"Are there any World-Compatible GSM cellular telephones that don't offer much beyond calling and an address book?""

Choose a quad band phone like the Motorola V330 and have it unlocked, so that it can be used with other carriers. When you arrive in another country, choose a local GSM provider, and install their proprietary module in your phone; it's easy, you can do it yourself or have the phone provider employee do it. The Motorola V330 can operate on these bands: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. That gives you the maximum opportunity in any city in the world.

It's best not to worry about minimal features. You can't fight the crazy marketing plans.

I suggest you try the T-Mobile Pay-As-You-Go Plan if you don't use a lot of minutes.

You definitely want GSM, the service is better. You definitely want a new phone, the sound quality is far better.

Ask around for someone in your city who will unlock your phone. Locking a phone without your knowledge should be illegal, companies don't warn customers that they are buying locked equipment.

The Nokia 1100

[Cloney]

Designed for the Russian market, it's an indestructable effort with a membrane keyboard like an old Sinclair ZX81.
Features:

• a monochrome screen that's actually visible in daylight
• superb battery life
• ability to make and receive calls and texts
• phone number memory
• predictive text input
• built in LED torch!

But let's face it, this is really about what it doesn't feature:

• WAP
• IR/Bluetooth
• Java games
• Downloadable ringtones
• Polyphonic ringtones
• Half second lag between pressing a key and phone responding (Sony Ericsson T610, I'm looking at you)
• Crashes
• Crazy Frog

Nokia UK site

Re:no ringtones pls

[Cecil]

Because, while it's very funny to watch 10 people all grab for their cellphones and simultaneously say "Hello?" it's not very efficient and the novelty quickly wears off.

Seriously though, the real purpose of custom ringtones is because as more and more people get cellphones, there's going to be more and more overlap between ringtones if you stick to the factory defaults. So if you'd like to avoid looking like a dumbass (although you might look like a dumbass for another reason if you pick a stupid ring), you can set a custom ringtone which is much less likely to be the same as the ring of some-random-schmuck who happens to be near you.

It's actually more practical than it seems at first glance.

eBay an older GSM phone

[Nuthatch]

I gave my wife an Ericsson T28 and it's a great little phone. Good voice quality, GSM triband, very small. And it's only $20-$40 unlocked. We use it with a prepaid GSM SIM so we only pay for minutes we use.