Smartphone alternatives

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Geektastic

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Topic # 230369 21-Feb-2018 11:31

I'm increasingly of the view that my smartphone is effectively just a toy.

It's amazing and does many things. It's a lovely toy. The simple fact of the matter is, it does many things that I really do not need to do, or if I do, I do not really need to do them on a phone.

If I wanted to replace it with a (very good) not smart phone, what alternatives are there?

I think my ideal (and it would probably cost more than a smartphone, if it exists) would be a handset that used normal cell system, billed by normal cell company but also had the ability to switch to satellite calling if required.

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Mr Snotty
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Reply # 1961441 21-Feb-2018 11:39

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I've got a new Nokia 3310 holding down the paper on my desk?

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wellygary

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Reply # 1961443 21-Feb-2018 11:40

had the ability to switch to satellite calling if required.

You just took a step back to the 90s most of the current satellite phone options such as iridium will provide voice/sms and slow speed data and not much else, I don't think I have seen any dual mode options thou

Geektastic

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Reply # 1961449 21-Feb-2018 11:53

wellygary:

had the ability to switch to satellite calling if required.

You just took a step back to the 90s most of the current satellite phone options such as iridium will provide voice/sms and slow speed data and not much else, I don't think I have seen any dual mode options thou

You see, being able to call from anywhere would be a whole lot more useful than being able to play Alto...!

I don't really care if it only provides voice/sms - that's what I need a phone to do. The rest is really just nice, rather than necessary. However, reliable voice, from anywhere in NZ would be very useful indeed. I suppose I could use an Iridium Go, but that is just another charger etc etc...

However, since sat calls are expensive ($2/minute at least) it's not something you'd want to do unless necessary - hence why I wondered if anyone had yet combined the two systems into one handset.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1961450 21-Feb-2018 11:54

michaelmurfy:

I've got a new Nokia 3310 holding down the paper on my desk?

Why?!

Geektastic

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Reply # 1961455 21-Feb-2018 11:58

Got to love this

From Stuff

"The phones are due to arrive in New Zealand in the next few months but the Nokia 3310 won't work on the Spark network.

That's because the 3310 uses 2G cellphone technology as opposed to 3G and 4G found on modern smartphones."

From Harvey Norman

Spark Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone + Prepay Sim

wellygary

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Reply # 1961459 21-Feb-2018 12:07

Geektastic:

Got to love this

From Stuff

"The phones are due to arrive in New Zealand in the next few months but the Nokia 3310 won't work on the Spark network.

That's because the 3310 uses 2G cellphone technology as opposed to 3G and 4G found on modern smartphones."

From Harvey Norman

Spark Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone + Prepay Sim

There's a 3g version now

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/discover/nokia.html

backfiah

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Reply # 1961461 21-Feb-2018 12:08

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Wouldn't it be cheaper to have a dumb phone and enable roaming with one of the NZ carriers with reasonable roaming rates? I feel like roaming is cheaper than satellite these days.

openmedia

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Reply # 1961521 21-Feb-2018 13:49

Geektastic:

Got to love this

From Stuff

"The phones are due to arrive in New Zealand in the next few months but the Nokia 3310 won't work on the Spark network.

That's because the 3310 uses 2G cellphone technology as opposed to 3G and 4G found on modern smartphones."

From Harvey Norman

Spark Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone + Prepay Sim

Spark doesn't have a 2G network at present anyway

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat New Zealand as a Solution Architect for all things Linux, Virtual and of course Cloud. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1961616 21-Feb-2018 15:16

backfiah:

Wouldn't it be cheaper to have a dumb phone and enable roaming with one of the NZ carriers with reasonable roaming rates? I feel like roaming is cheaper than satellite these days.

Roaming is (or can be) cheaper, especially on VF.

However it (obviously) does not work where there is no cell coverage and that is a surprising amount of NZ, never mind elsewhere.

Also, although you can roam in a list of countries for $5/day on VF, that does not include quite a lot of places I visit.

Making a phone that combines cell and satellite seems like an obvious thing to do - I am surprised it has not been done.

backfiah

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Reply # 1961727 21-Feb-2018 17:24

Like this? http://www.thuraya.com/xt-pro-dual

freitasm

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Reply # 1961759 21-Feb-2018 18:36

@Geektastic:

From Stuff

"The phones are due to arrive in New Zealand in the next few months but the Nokia 3310 won't work on the Spark network.

That's because the 3310 uses 2G cellphone technology as opposed to 3G and 4G found on modern smartphones."

From Harvey Norman

Spark Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone + Prepay Sim

You obviously believed Stuff and your search skills. Since that piece Nokia did release a 3G version and that works on Spark network - actually works in all three NZ networks. Of course you should have looked on Geekzone first instead of Stuff:

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Geektastic

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Reply # 1961761 21-Feb-2018 18:39

backfiah:

Like this? http://www.thuraya.com/xt-pro-dual

Yes. Exactly that.

Which has no dealers in NZ..!

Geektastic

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Reply # 1961764 21-Feb-2018 18:41

freitasm:

@Geektastic:

From Stuff

"The phones are due to arrive in New Zealand in the next few months but the Nokia 3310 won't work on the Spark network.

That's because the 3310 uses 2G cellphone technology as opposed to 3G and 4G found on modern smartphones."

From Harvey Norman

Spark Nokia 3310 Mobile Phone + Prepay Sim

You obviously believed Stuff and your search skills. Since that piece Nokia did release a 3G version and that works on Spark network - actually works in all three NZ networks. Of course you should have looked on Geekzone first instead of Stuff:

Nokia 3310 announcement
Nokia 3310 thread
Nokia 3310 review