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People Opting for a Dumbphone Over a Smartphone

posted by janrinok on Wednesday March 26 2014, @01:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the phone-without-cheezburgers dept.

moylan writes:

An article from the Chicago Tribune discusses people who are changing their smartphone for a dumbphone. From the article:

When Ryan Gleeson punches out a text message or takes a call on his cellphone at parties, he prepares to hear questions from onlookers, and sometimes snickers. That's because the 24-year-old carries a $50 flip phone - the Samsung Gusto 2. There's no touch screen or apps. No Web browsing capabilities. No collection of music to enjoy through earbuds.

"Definitely it's like a black sheep in the room when I pull it out," said Gleeson, a postproduction associate at a documentary production house in Lincoln Park. "I work with a lot of Apple people - creative types. Everyone has an iPhone." Gleeson is among cellphone users who choose to be dialled out of the world of iPhones, BlackBerrys and Androids. In an increasingly connected and accessible culture, these stalwarts have chosen hand-held devices that offer only the basics, despite the social isolation and limitations that may come with them.

For Gleeson, hanging up the iPhone demonstrates no "grand realization about humanity," he said; rather, it's a way to tamp down his compulsive email checking. With the basic phone, "It's a lot easier now to just step away and say, 'I'm not going to work right now,'" he said.

[...a survey] found that 35 percent of U.S. adults carry a cellphone that is not a smartphone.

As someone who got rid of an iphone and android device and replaced them with 2 feature phones I thought I was in the minority. But I have noticed more and more folk around carrying a second dumbphone for when the battery goes on their smartphone. Anyone else doing this?"

[Editor: Yes, me!]

 
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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by visaris on Wednesday March 26 2014, @03:14PM

    by visaris (2041) on Wednesday March 26 2014, @03:14PM (#21680) Journal

    Now if AT&T is saying that you need a data plan with any smartphone, regardless of whether you bought it from them or brought it yourself, you should tell them where they can shove it.

    This is what Verizon told me last time I stopped by one of their locations (a month ago?). I would have to add a data plan if I wanted to use (attach) a smart phone to my existing plan (shared with the wife or I'd just leave Verizon). It's required. I don't really want a smart phone anyways as I want a physical qwerty keyboard. So, I now use the Samsung Intensity II. Not the greatest, but has what I want...

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 26 2014, @10:36PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 26 2014, @10:36PM (#21879)

    Try looking into switching to a MVNO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_State s_mobile_virtual_network_operators [wikipedia.org] and you should be able to find something that fits your needs/wants a little better.

    I wanted to stay on Verizon's network and ran into the same problem as you (no smartphone without data). I switched to a MVNO and I've used a Droid 3 and an LG Ally (both with physical keyboards and around $40 and $20, respectively). A basic android phone with the complete text-only wikipedia (aardict) and offline maps (osmand) comes in handy.

    My MVNO in 1337 speak so this looks less like an advertisement: P463 P1u5

  • (Score: 1) by tftp on Wednesday March 26 2014, @10:56PM

    by tftp (806) on Wednesday March 26 2014, @10:56PM (#21886) Homepage

    Yes, this is correct. AT&T and Verizon tack the data charge to your bill automatically, as soon as they see a smartphone's IMEI/MEID on the network. They don't care who you bought the smartphone from - as long as it is on air they want your money.

    I'm in the same boat. I'm carrying an ancient flip phone. It's on third battery now. Bits and pieces of the plastic chipped off years ago. But it works. I have no desire to pay for the data plan that I will never use. I do not need a portable browser that is as large as a few postage stamps. I do not need Twitbook, or any other "social" networks. I'm too busy with my first life to worry about the second one. I can survive without email for a few hours just fine; all the other time I'm near computers.

    If this requirement is lifted, I would get a smartphone to just act as a small computer. I have a tablet that runs some of my ham radio software. A phone could do that too. But I will not pay for the data service.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 27 2014, @09:02AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 27 2014, @09:02AM (#22019)

      Check out Wikipedia's list of MVNOs and find one that uses your current network. Most allow smartphones without data and are typically cheaper per month (even with the early termination fees from your old contract).
      Check the other replies to the parent for a link.