Why sales of very basic mobile phones, without apps and internet connection, are increasing.
  • angelsomething@lemmy.oneEnglish
    341·
    1 year ago

    Oh it’s this time of the year again. I swear every year for the past 5 years I’ve read the same article about the return of dumb phones.

  • schmorp@slrpnk.netMEnglish
    131·
    1 year ago

    Been thinking about it, but I think we’re a bit past the point where it’s even possible especially around banking. Maybe it would be important to have as many as possible go back to dumb phones before they start to introduce obligations to own a smartphone.

    • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.mlEnglish
      12·
      1 year ago

      I’m a software developer. I have a modern phone. However, I just log into banking via the Web. I don’t use any apps. So, I do so on my computer, but maybe my lifestyle doesn’t require a phone to do this, and other people’s do? I’m not sure. I just don’t need to online bank when out and about. Is that a normal thing?

      • activistPnk@slrpnk.netEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Some banks in Europe are slowly removing features from their websites in attempt to push people onto their app which can execute whatever spyware they want without the constraints of javascript. Some banks have ditched their website and force their customers to use the closed-source app… while also forcing them to buy new hardware periodically. Yes it’s a terrible direction things are going.

    • Rozaŭtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      I think there are more advanced dumb phones that allow you to run android apps, so you could still have banking and whatnot, but then you’d risk of it becoming just another smartphone.

    • activistPnk@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      A bank has already done that. If you don’t install their app, you simply lose access to your account. In Europe the post office banks will likely not pull that shit and will remain useful for analog/offline folks.

      • schmorp@slrpnk.netMEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        I have been considering changing to my local farmer’s credit bank. They still have actual places you can go in every small town. I drive 20km every time I want something from my actual bank, it’s ridiculous. I imagine the farmers bank also might be analog-friendly in other ways.

  • jeebus@kbin.social
    3·
    1 year ago

    I am thinking of going back to a not Google or Apple data collecting experience. Looking at the light phone 2 and a librem 11 for when I need a browser.

  • activistPnk@slrpnk.netEnglish
    41·
    1 year ago

    I can’t get over my disgust in how the world threw all their perfectly good feature phones into landfills & now they’re buying new feature phones at absurd prices. WTF. Go to any flee market or street market and there are piles of old dumb phones. It’s like the people who are sensible enough to realize smart phones are a bad idea are still addicted to buying new stuff.

    • activistPnk@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Certainly some people who lack self-control benefit from a feature phone.

      I guess you probably got down voted because lack of self-control is only one of many reasons to use a dumb phone. The other reason mentioned in the article is battery life.

      I have both a smart phone and a feature phone. The smartphone is permanently in airplane mode & it goes wherever I go. The feature phone actually has a mobile subscription but I don’t typically carry it.

    • Shalakushka@kbin.social
      71·
      1 year ago

      It’s not what I want, and thus no one wants it! Enjoy your obligatory surveillance state, non-tech bros!

      • KISSmyOS@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        Because then your device is still expensive, needs to be replaced after a couple of years, battery lasts a day only, apps need to be updated constantly, Google tracks you and if you drop it your screen breaks.

        It’s the worst of both worlds.

        That being said, my middle ground solution is a Unihertz Atom. With its 2.4" screen you just won’t use it unless you have to. But it still lets you look up info you really need on the internet or maps, use messenger apps, speech-to-text, swipe typing, second factor for banking, and a camera.

        • vic_rattlehead@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          1 year ago

          Cheap, durable, low-capability androids with user replaceable batteries exist. Install a de-googled version and google tracking is mitigated, though your carrier is still keeping tabs on you. “Dumbphones” still have software and need to be periodically updated against vulnerabilities.

          That Atom actually looks really cool, thanks for introducing me to it.

          • KISSmyOS@lemmy.worldEnglish
            4·
            1 year ago

            Install a de-googled version

            There usually isn’t one for cheap, low-capability phones.

            “Dumbphones” still have software and need to be periodically updated against vulnerabilities.

            Dumbphones aren’t connected to the internet. The only data reaching them comes from your provider in the form of SMS and phone calls, so there is no attack vector.

            If you don’t need the Atom’s ruggedness, but want a newer Android, the Jelly Star was just released.

            • vic_rattlehead@lemmy.worldEnglish
              4·
              1 year ago

              I really like the rugged aesthetic and would have it on me for tunes while dirt biking.

              Just for research I powered up my old ~2006 flip phone (yeah I do have a tech hoarding problem) and though it doesn’t have wifi, one of its functions is a browser, so it’s definitely still getting an IP address in one form or another. With the 3g discontinuation, I’m pretty sure even if a device doesn’t use a data plan, it still gets an ipv6 address. Do carriers even support analog voice anymore, or is it all delivered digitally? I know AT&T priority push-to-talk traffic is digital transmission, even if the device doesn’t have a data plan.