John’s Phone Launched for Technophobes
A Dutch company has launched what it calls “the world’s simplest phone”, targeting users who are sick of new-generation models
Only capable of making and receiving calls, John’s Phone is dubbed the world’s simplest mobile phone, specifically designed for anti-smartphones users.
It does not provide any hi-tech features. No apps. No Internet. No camera. No text messaging. All you have to do – in fact, all you can do – is call, talk and hang up.
Anti-smartphones
Named after the company that created it – John Doe, a full-service advertising agency in Amsterdam – the phone is designed for users who are fed up with smartphones and their hi-tech functions.
Its extreme simplicity is designed to appeal to technophobes, the elderly and young kids buying their first phones.
“John’s Phone is easy to use wherever you go. It’s the no-contract cell phone you’ve been waiting for, without any frills or unnecessary features”, the company stated.
Retro Look
In an effort to make it extremely retro, John Doe also provides a small paper-based address book and a pen for storing contacts. They can be slid into the back of the phone.
Other features include a 1200 mAh battery with three weeks stand-by time, a single ringtone, speed dial with enough memory to store ten numbers and a hands-free kit. It is 10.5 x 6 x 1.5 cm and weighs in at 95 grams.
The phone is available in five colours: white, black, brown, greyish-green and pink. The prices range from around £60 to £80.
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48 replies to John’s Phone Launched for Technophobes
Where do I get one that will work on Verizon? Please!?
Funny how the call and hangup buttons look like the kids from South Park.
You’re going the wrong way!
No, paying 25$ a month, then 35$ a month, then 50$, then 100$ a month + 3 year minimum contract or buy the 600$ phone outright THEN 50$ a month minimum – That’s going the wrong way.
Finally someone trying to cut through the multi-million dollar marketing – a phone is a phone people. Spend your money on something worth it…
Speed dial? Um, too fancy for me. Can I get one without it?
10 Numbers. Serious. I call more then 10 people (though not every day) you want the people that can’t remember how to use a mobile phone to remember more then 10 numbers.
thats just stupid
Id like to see how it sells but I doubt there will be many units.
FYI, technophobe doesn’t mean “someone who can’t remember how to use a cellphone”. Did you read the article?
So don’t buy it, rocket scientist.
Again youre missing the point.
Who’s (not) educating our kids nowadays?
Obviously needing more than 10 contacts then this phone isn’t for you.
For some ppl its perect so i thinbk itll’ sell to… err.. them!…Oh and yes i just ordered mine!
Soz about the above atrocious English! MY education was crap too:-( I was rushing the message. !!!
60 pounds for something that was invented decades ago?!?! Get real……
I was expecting rotary dial functionality. Or atleast circular dialpad.
MY grandfather will be excited by this… I recently noticed he uses sticky tape to stick a paper with his contacts on the back of his cellphone.
How about SMS? At least it should have that feature if someone is subscribing to a mobile service.
Why doesn’t it come with a rotary dial?
That’s upwards of $160!?!?
For that kind of money, I’d expect a mechanical pencil.
(Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible)
LOL southpark kids
OMG THEY KILLED THE SMARTPHONE !
Oh yay. More ways for old people to hide in the corner when technology comes around. Someone needs to get off their can and teach the seniors the base principles of technology, such as virtual buttons and dialog boxes etc, and then maybe they can learn something.
some people need to stop being so arrogant in their assumption that age means anything more than how long you have been around for. I know “seniors” who could kick your but in practically anything technological. You, you idiot, stand on the shoulders of the seniors who came before you.
learning tech is easy the first time round, its relearning the new tech again and again and unlearning old habits that are hard
I bet if you get to be senior you wont be able to cope with whatever tech has come along then and you’ll be the grand dad who insists that he needs to use his old smartphone to help him
Bravo!
Well said. Only the young are that narrow minded about older people.
It’s not just for old people. I’m in IT industry and I’m sick of technology overload. A simple phone is all I need.
Must be opposite day.
Too high tech. There are buttons.
Where is my rotary?
Costs too much. A phone like this should cost about $40AU. But I fully support the idea.
It also needs dedicated recycling.
And just like any retro phone, the buttons look big enough to push with your cheek while talking.
is it simple or marketing
marketing is creating something fake to sell
simple making your life easier.
I find that a visual screen actually makes life easier; that is, going back to a screenless phone is
*not simpler* but more complex – the whole idea of technology (see bertrand russells partner) is to allow you not to have to think about stuff
the screen does this well
No contact storage? You’ll need a phone book.
There is a phone book. It has two widgets called “paper” and “pen” to assist you.
If it’s aimed at people who don’t ring “friends” to ask them where they are or what they are having for tea, then it’s well sufficient.
60 to 80 Euro for that? Really? try 20, that makes sense.
I have to agree. This does appear to be grossly overpriced for what it does. I’d absolutely consider buying it, but only when the price comes down.
hmm here in mexico you need to send a text mssg,. to get your celphone activate… but i think the companys can really make an effort to get this kind of stuff
The cost is prohibitive. No one would pay 80 Euros for such a phone.
That thing is awesome. Accepts any sim card from anywhere in the world. THAT is why he can ask what he asks and it’s not even sold to the US. Has a phonebook that slips in the back (paper) so you can use it even when the phone is off. Try THAT with your stupid iphone.
Pathetic. Here in South Africa there are both Nokias and the especially the ZTE S306 that provide the same functionality + SMS features for a mere R300 or so once-off.
The whole point is not even to have SMS.
for god’s sake, get real.
Pay 20E and have this baby here definitely more worth it than the one in the review:
http://www.mobilescat.com/mobilephones/manufactures/phone/samsung_gt-e1080/owners_reviews.
If you are reading this, then you are (like me) not the correct people to judge this product! However I do know of at least two people that would use such a product. The price point needs to be re-examined.
80 euro actually doesn’t sound that expensive, compared to, say, an iPhone4 which ranges from 600-900 euro…
“Battery:
The standby time is more than three weeks. If the battery is full, the right side of the screen features the word ‘JOHNS’. The lower the battery, the fewer letters will be displayed. If your battery is empty, the Phone first shows a ‘J’, followed by ‘LOW’.
Material:
John’s Phone is manufactured from a high-quality plastic, making it resilient and water-resistant.”
Perhaps not only for technophobes but for situations where you need a water-resistant phone with 3 weeks standby time .. or for fans of J-Lo
D
would work well with my giant QWERTY keyboard:
http://qwerty.gregrank.us
great phone for grandma
10 CM TALL!!!! WHAT?!?
NO GOOD! TOO BIG!
Cool
I have something better. Annoyed by the obnoxious users of slick smartphones who don’t seem to know what the word “private space” means? Well, I will get you out of their ranks for only 200$.
You wont have a contract ever. You pay when you want to call. A quarter at a time for the most part. Just look for booths marked with a symbol of a telephone positioned strategically across most inhabited parts of the US. Connection is guaranteed—fewer dropped calls than practically any carrier. You can even call abroad.
Con artists.
These would make reasonable phones to rent/borrow. I can imagine flying into another country for say a 2 day business trip and hiring one of these from the airport, or being lent one by your company’s office in that overseas location, so that you can communicate during your stay, whilst saving a lot of money on roaming charges. Even if your own phone was in for repair for a couple of days. I doubt people wouldn’t steal these ;o)
My mother is interested in purchasing ‘John’s phone’ following an article in the Daily Mail. Please can you let me know where it is available in the uk and also if you can get it on a pay as you go basis and not contract.
Thanks
Nowadays, life goes too fast….
This can help us to slow down…and be with ourselves.
I can see nothing wrong with a simple LCD display to confirm what number you’ve just keyed in, for people that are able to see it. Most oldies can simple ignore it if they don’t understand it. You shouldn’t need it to operate the phone but visible feedback for the button presses is really handy. Also, why the silly icons for talk/hangup? They should be the standard green phone/red phone, or better still a flip phone. Flip phones, are really simple to understand and hard to leave open ‘by mistake’, no matter how senile the operator! There is a massive area to put the buttons in but not all the real-estate has been used up, I would make the buttons as large as possible, so the phone is easier to use by disabled people. Don’t see why the talk/hangup buttons are larger than the dialing buttons.
All in all though, it’s a great idea, and the price is no particular problem, so long as it’s unique it can command a higher price.