Making cell phones simple is hard (Gimme a simple phone, please!)

CNN Technology ^ | Monday, May 29, 2006; Posted: 8:38 a.m. EDT (12:38 GMT) | AP

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Nathan Bales represents a troubling trend for cellular phone carriers.

The Kansas City-area countertop installer recently traded in a number of feature-laden phones for a stripped-down model. He said he didn't like using them to surf the Internet, rarely took pictures with them and couldn't stand scrolling through seemingly endless menus to get the functions to work.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

This 5-year old Nokia 1260 is a rather large clunker, with exposed buttons, which get activated while in your pocket. All of a sudden, it's dialing or doing something and I didn't initiate it.

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1260

Junk.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

THAT'S THE ONE I HAD!

Still have it in my basement's 'museum collection', but its no longer compatible with today's cell towers etc, or so they say.

I loved that simple unit... thanks, b. (((sniffle)))

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Makes too much common sense, M. They'd never go for it.

[AlaskaErik]

I don't need a Jack Bauer phone. Just a simple cell phone to receive and make calls, retrieve messages and store names and numbers.

I don't need web surfing, text messages, wallpaper, chimes, movies, still shots, missile tracking, links to NSA INTELSATs, ICBM launch capability or any of that stuff.

Please, Dear TelCos: gimme something simple to use!

I hear you loud and clear! Your first paragraph says it all. That's all I ever use my phone for.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Right you are, D.

Here's the Nokia clunker I'm using and it's crap.

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1260

[butternut_squash_bisque]

You're probably the smartest person on this thread. Wish I could say the same thing, F.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Lost me on that one, A.

[Sender]

I've been very happy with my LG VX-3200 for a year now. It doesn't do fancy things. It just works, and the battery life is great.

[vetvetdoug]

I am having the same problem. I just want a cell phone that sends and receives calls and has big numbers so I can see them without glasses. That is all I want. I don't want any memory, no photo camera, nothing...just dial and send and receive. I have asked the company for one and they supposedly do not exist. Somebody somewhere has got to see a need here.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I'm using an old Nokia 1260. It doesn't like that procedure, j. I've read the 1" thick manual 3x, and can still make no sense of it all.

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1260

[Huntress]

I think I've asked you this before, but here goes: Where do you find this stuff?

[FreedomCalls]

http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/26/kyoceras-cellphone-for-the-elderly/

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html

Check out the website. I have a fellow in my office who speaks to his brother in South America every day for free on it and he said it seems to work great.

[P.O.E.]

I just keep mine turned off. Problem solved.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

This one?

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=443

Looks kinda easy and cool. I'll be looking into that one tomorrow, too. Thanks.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I don't need a Jack Bauer phone. Just a simple cell phone to receive and make calls, retrieve messages and store names and numbers.

Preach it!

Also depending on where you work you may not be allowed to carry a camera phone for security reasons.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

You'd think so, but so far, I'm drawing a complete blank. Several good suggestions on this thread, so i'm going to make some calls on Tuesday. I have 6 employees with Nokia 1260s, and we all hate them.

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1260

[backhoe]

THAT'S THE ONE I HAD! Still have it in my basement's 'museum collection', but its no longer compatible with today's cell towers etc, or so they say. I loved that simple unit... thanks, b. (((sniffle)))

It's a Motorola, circa 1996 manufacture- it gets through when my wife's wimpy little Nokia gives you nothing but duck-talk.

Unfortunately, the cell providers here aren't continuing to support older analog phones- they grandfathered this one in, but said "no more" when I tried to get one for my wife's car later.

It's funny how fast we adapt to, and take for granted, and get spoiled by, new technology-- my teenaged nieces were agast at stories of my childhood-- one dial phone in the dining room, one TV, and one car for the whole family. ( they each have an SUV, as does their Dad and Mom. )

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Hey, FC; we're making progress here. I like it! Calling the phone store on Tuesday, and I'm only 56.

[Miss Marple]

Well, if you fins anyone making phones with big number keys and none of the extra stuff, please let me know. I have a cell phone and I HATE IT! I can't retrieve messages, don't know how to program numbers into it, and it has all sorts of games and fancy rings. I just want to make calls and be able to cradle the phone on my shoulder!