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

No.

[Anonymous Coward]

There isn't.

no ringtones pls

[oni]

or how about a phone that just rings? I don't get why people want their phones to start playing "can you take me to funky town" when they get a call.

As a geek, I like technology to just do its job. It's a phone. It should alert me in the most efficient way when I get a call. that's all it has to do. I don't need to be entertained. I have other gadgets for that.

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.

Address books?

[Craigj0]

Address books are the work of the devil. You and your new fangled bloating features.

Why?

[Cthefuture]

What exactly is the point in asking this?

There are cheap (or even free) phones available so cost can't be the issue.

Are they too complicated for you? You know, you don't have to use those new-fangled features.

Personally I find the PDA-like features extremely handy as I never liked having to carry a PDA and phone anyway. I mostly just use the scheduling/reminder stuff though.

As for the "other" stuff like cameras, my guess is that there are more phones without cameras than with them.

Re:Why?

[Clover_Kicker]

I'd like a nice, simple phone that doesn't take 45 fucking seconds to boot.

Re:Why?

[Fry-kun]

I agree completely.
My phone (Motorola T720) takes way too long to boot up and shut down (20 seconds or so). It got me so pissed that I don't even turn it off anymore... But that's not the biggest problem!
The real problem is that it sometimes locks up or just reboots for reasons unknown. Even the simple process of charging the phone is handled through its software, which makes charging impossible sometimes -- VERY ANNOYING.
And the last (worst) problem is that it can't seem to process everything at the right speed anymore. It could be I just dropped it one too many times, but when a phone call comes in, i'm seeing only half the information drawn on the screen (i mean internal screen, external one works wonderfully). And god forbid I should get a call while I'm talking to someone - that screen doesn't even come up anymore (at least the phone vibrates though)

My Nokia 5190 (although quite crappy), took maybe 3-5 seconds to boot up and just as long to shut down, regardless of how many addressbook entries I made. As for responsiveness, it was just perfect.
anyway -- enough /. -- back to work

Re:Why?

[kent_eh]

Someone else has already mentioned that some places don't allow camera phones (or any devices that can take pictures) so I won't dwell on that.

My take on wanting a "just a phone" phone, is to have less circuitry drawing power, and to allow the designers to focus on solid RF and audio performance, and not waste R&D resources on shoehorning all the other crap into the same size package.

The other 'feature' I want to see is a ruggedized phone. Something a construction worker can use at work, and not have to worry about getting trashed in the first week.

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

Nokia 1110

[dismentor]

World Compatible?

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.

Dear Slashdot

[Cinematique]

A list of the submissions that didn't make the cut.

My black and white TV is good enough. Is there a model out there without all of these newfangled technologies like color and stereo sound?

My '57 BelAir gets me from point A to point B just fine... problem is... nobody makes parts for it anymore. Can anyone recommend a similar car without power steering and respectable milage?

Bla bla bla...

Re:Dear Slashdot

[deacon]

My '57 BelAir gets me from point A to point B just fine... problem is... nobody makes parts for it anymore. Can anyone recommend a similar car without power steering and respectable milage?

Boy are you in luck today!

1957 Bel Air parts.

Re:Yes Virginia, there is such a phone!

[Hugh Lilly]

The Vodafone Simply is the phone you seek.
That phone has recently been introduced here, too. Except that out of all the ringtones it has, none of them are actually a simple *RING*!
You think they could have got *that* right, I mean the reason people would choose this phone is because it's supposedly simple to use.

Yes, i have one.

[Xunker]

I got one just yesterday from T-mobile for free with activation, but it is available online unlocked for cheap.

The Motorola V188

No camera.
No IR.
No bluetooth.
Standard mini-usb for syncing.
GSM quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900) with GPRS.

Yes, it is colour, but it's basically as minimal as you can get righ now.