Motorola Develops Bare-Bones Phone

tunabomber writes "Whenever a review of the latest cellphone/camera/MP3 player/GPS receiver/fish finder/tazer convergence gadget is posted on Slashdot, the first posters are usually quick to chime in by saying they just want something with decent battery life, reception, ergonomics, etc. Those posters' prayers may now be answered, because Motorola's new 'dumb' phone has been designed with these traits in mind. Notable features include an E Ink display and dual antennae to improve reception. The phone is slated to become available before the end of the year."

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you work in any kind of job where security is taken seriously (government contractors, aerospace industry, etc.) they don't permit anyone in with cellphones equipped with cameras, usb, audo recording, etc. Not at the regular employee level at least. This is to combat corporate espionage and other information leaks.

This is not exactly a "niche" market.

Not available in the US for the foreseeable future

[Buran]

If you read the very last paragraph in the article, it states that the phone isn't going to be available in the US unless someone will carry it (and it doesn't have a way for Verizon et al to nickel and dime you to death with photos, ringtones etc, so good luck getting them to do it) or it's sold in drugstores alongside no-name brands, and I wouldn't be surprised if Motorola makes up some BS excuse about how it's beneath Moto to sell that way.

So for now, those who want just a simple phone (like my mom) are out of luck. Even text messaging and other bells and whistles go unused on her phone.

On the upside, she got the phone for free with her plan and just doesn't use the features she doesn't want, but she's continually asking me if she gets charged for text messages (not unless it's someone other than T-Mobile who sends them and nobody sends her anything, so I don't see why she worries).

Re:Why?

[dubbreak]

I think you need to look at the html of the parent post so you can understand it better:

<joke>Why so little features? I'd want something more advanced.</joke>

Useless without _better_ pics

[Anonymous Coward]

The pictures of this phone actually do it justice - it looks amazing in proportion to the hand. See for yourself [mobileburn.com]. As someone who wants my phone to "just be a phone," I'll be buying one, without a doubt.

Re:Flashlight!

[Ullteppe]

There's a high-intensity white LED on my Sony Ericsson K700i. It's intended to be lighting for the built-in camera, but is much more useful as a flashlight (actually, the LED is more useful than the camera). Shame there's no dedicated button, it takes two button presses to turn it on.

Re:Holy scary CTO batman!

[Anonymous Coward]

Padmasree Warrior. Sounds like their board meetings take place in a steel cage with investors chanting "Two man enter! One man leave!"

Padmasree Warrior is female.

Re:Flashlight!

[Davey McDave]

A lot of phones already have these.

A good example being my phone: http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,46548,00.html [nokia.co.uk]

Decent battery, really easy UI (Nokias are a lot easier to use), flashlight, alarm, texts, big fat buttons you can actually press comfortably. Cheap as all hell too. Looks better in black. Maybe it just hasn't been released in the US yet? A lot of people have this phone in the UK..

And yes, the flashlight is AMAZINGLY useful, just like the tiny screwdriver I have on my keyring. Not only is it good for screwing things, just as a sharp thin tool.

Re:Why?

[ricardo_nz]

Again...: ------------>Whoosh---------->

ARPU

[aberson]

You know that $100 phone you bought when you sign up for a new contract? It's really a $300 phone... I don't have a source, but I recall reading somewhere that it takes over a year for the cell company to recoup the cost of the loss-leader phone they gave you.

"Average Revenue Per User" is the cellular industry term that is key here. The wireless industry does everything it can to eek out every single bit of revenue from each user. Text messages, pictures, ringtones, etc. So, I don't think you'll ever see this phone in the states... there is not even a CHANCE of increasing revenue.

MAYBE you could see this phone in the pre-paid market, which typically has simpler phones anyway (and higher airtime revenue).

Must have GPS in the USA, right?

[Rich Klein]

I didn't see any mention of whether or not it has a GPS receiver. Any cell phone sold in the US is required to have a GPS receiver built in so they can track you, right? That could be one reason why this phone won't be sold in the US.

It looks pretty cool to me, in any case.