Microsoft Hasn't Given Up On the Non-Smart Phones It Inherited From Nokia

jfruh writes: Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's handset business was mostly focused on gaining a hardware line that ran the company's Windows Phone OS; but in the process, Microsoft also gained ownership of some model lines that are classified as "feature phones" and some that are straight up dumb, and they're still coming out with new models, confusingly still bearing the "Nokia" brand. The $20 Nokia 105 as billed as "long-lasting backup device" and comes with an FM radio, while the $30 Nokia 215 is "Internet-ready" and comes with Facebook and Twitter apps.

Comments

Cheap Nokia have great reputation

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

These dumb phones have very good reputation in third world countries. I use a cheap 15$ Nokia in India. It supports texting in local languages, Indian astrological calenders, etc. Incredibly some of these cheap phones are meant for families, not individuals. They would support multiple "user profiles" with independent call logs and contact lists. And the battery! Lasts for ever.

It would actually make sense to use a smart phone as a digital assistant and carry these cheap phones for voice and text. Many of us still wear watches right? Same way, the smart phones are actually personal computers, it is better to have an independent device with its own long lasting battery for voice and text.

hit submit too early

[Registered Coward v2]

They also tend to be more durable than a smartphone. You can carry it in a pocket or drop it with much less chance of damaging it. If you lose it you're out $20 rather than several hundred. I know contracters that use them for that reason as well as give them to employees for use on site for similar reasons.

Re:Why are "feature phones" still a thing?

[CastrTroy]

No kidding. I recently replaced my old Android 2.3 phone. Part of the reason I replaced it was because it wouldn't make it past 2:00 PM most days if I didn't charge it. After getting my new phone I did a factory reset on the old one. I charged it up, unplugged it, and left it on the night table. Came back 2 days later to be pleasantly surprised that it still had over 50% battery life. Because it didn't have anything to do, the battery lasted quite long. Then I decided I wanted to use it for a few simple games. I registered the device with my Google account and installed Minecraft. And that is all I installed. Now it only lasts about 12 hours for a charge. Somehow, simply having the thing connected to my Google account means that the battery life goes down from 3+ days to 12 hours. The device is pretty much completely useless as a "smart phone" but acting as dumb phone it works pretty well. I assume If I only loaded programs on it that didn't run in the background so much, that battery life would be fine, and I'd still be able to use it as a feature phone. I'll have to disconnect my Google account to see if that clears it up. Hopefully the installed programs will still work after I've disconnected my account.