4 ms·

> This sort of thing is one of the major reasons why I'm abandoning smartphones. I haven't been able to find any real dumbphones that will work well in the US

by ebg13 7y ago

> This sort of thing is one of the major reasons why I'm abandoning smartphones. I haven't been able to find any real dumbphones that will work well in the US (non-LTE call service being phased out). Where are you and what do you plan to use?

wrinklytidbits 7y ago
I used this for awhile with TMobile/MetroPCS: https://www.amazon.com/SLIDE-Wallet-Unlocked-Worldwide-Service/dp/B071CMNWCD/ref=pd_sbs_107_36?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B071CMNWCD&pd_rd_r=ce16fc80-0416-4131-8787-14a072e52315&pd_rd_w=myaLu&pd_rd_wg=6vvwW&pf_rd_p=5873ae95-9063-4a23-9b7e-eafa738c2269&pf_rd_r=MP6FV050ZKVWQAKH8XDM&psc=1&refRID=MP6FV050ZKVWQAKH8XDM https://www.amazon.com/SLIDE-Wallet-Unlocked-Worldwide-Servi...
- ColanR 7y ago
  That is 2G, which is what is being phased out.
gibspaulding 7y ago
I admit I haven't tried going this route, but Ting seems to still have at least one they support that you can buy off of their website: https://ting.com/shop/alcatel-go-flip_Black-4GB-refurbished-cdma https://ting.com/shop/alcatel-go-flip_Black-4GB-refurbished-... I guess from the description that it does have some internet capabilities, but I would assume they can be disabled. Another option if you're just trying to get away from Google/Apple would be an Android phone with Lineage OS and no Google services. You loose access to the usual Play store apps, but still have a lot more capabilities than a flip phone. https://www.lineageos.org/ https://www.lineageos.org/
- boring_twenties 7y ago
  You don't really lose access to the Play Store, you can access it indirectly using the free Aurora app instead. There is also microG, a free reimplementation of Google Play Services, which would allow you to even use apps that depend on that (for instance, for push notifications). Of course what I actually recommend is doing neither of those and only using apps from F-Droid instead. But it is an option.
mikepurvis 7y ago
Depending on your usage pattern and whether you need to be able to receive calls or push notifications, it's possible your needs might be met by a laptop with an LTE stick that you only plug in when you actually need data, and a voip client on that laptop for making calls. Obviously there's some inconvenience here, but it has the nice property that assuming you can use wifi at your main locations (home, work, coffee shop, library, etc), you'll only ever be on the cellular network in between places. And because the stick is naturally de-powered when not plugged in, there's no need to seek out a battery-removable phone.
- ebg13 7y ago
  I think we must have very different ideas of "some inconvenience" when your cellphone replacement is an entire laptop with additional plugin-in peripherals. Got one of those that will fit in my pocket?
  - mikepurvis 7y ago
    The user who started this thread described an intent to replace his smartphone with a dumbphone paired with a "pocket computer" running "ordinary Linux, not Android." Unless you're using the phone for a lot of calls and texting, it's probably not much worse to do it all from the "pocket computer" or laptop than to have two separate devices. In any case, I traveled overseas ~12 years ago with no phone and just a white MacBook, so I'm aware of some of the compromises required, things like saving pages and making screenshots of maps, always on the lookout for places likely to have free or inexpensive wifi.

by ebg13 7y ago

wrinklytidbits 7y ago

I used this for awhile with TMobile/MetroPCS: https://www.amazon.com/SLIDE-Wallet-Unlocked-Worldwide-Service/dp/B071CMNWCD/ref=pd_sbs_107_36?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B071CMNWCD&pd_rd_r=ce16fc80-0416-4131-8787-14a072e52315&pd_rd_w=myaLu&pd_rd_wg=6vvwW&pf_rd_p=5873ae95-9063-4a23-9b7e-eafa738c2269&pf_rd_r=MP6FV050ZKVWQAKH8XDM&psc=1&refRID=MP6FV050ZKVWQAKH8XDM https://www.amazon.com/SLIDE-Wallet-Unlocked-Worldwide-Servi...

ColanR 7y ago
That is 2G, which is what is being phased out.

gibspaulding 7y ago

I admit I haven't tried going this route, but Ting seems to still have at least one they support that you can buy off of their website: https://ting.com/shop/alcatel-go-flip_Black-4GB-refurbished-cdma https://ting.com/shop/alcatel-go-flip_Black-4GB-refurbished-... I guess from the description that it does have some internet capabilities, but I would assume they can be disabled. Another option if you're just trying to get away from Google/Apple would be an Android phone with Lineage OS and no Google services. You loose access to the usual Play store apps, but still have a lot more capabilities than a flip phone. https://www.lineageos.org/ https://www.lineageos.org/

boring_twenties 7y ago
You don't really lose access to the Play Store, you can access it indirectly using the free Aurora app instead. There is also microG, a free reimplementation of Google Play Services, which would allow you to even use apps that depend on that (for instance, for push notifications). Of course what I actually recommend is doing neither of those and only using apps from F-Droid instead. But it is an option.

mikepurvis 7y ago

Depending on your usage pattern and whether you need to be able to receive calls or push notifications, it's possible your needs might be met by a laptop with an LTE stick that you only plug in when you actually need data, and a voip client on that laptop for making calls. Obviously there's some inconvenience here, but it has the nice property that assuming you can use wifi at your main locations (home, work, coffee shop, library, etc), you'll only ever be on the cellular network in between places. And because the stick is naturally de-powered when not plugged in, there's no need to seek out a battery-removable phone.

ebg13 7y ago
I think we must have very different ideas of "some inconvenience" when your cellphone replacement is an entire laptop with additional plugin-in peripherals. Got one of those that will fit in my pocket?
- mikepurvis 7y ago
  The user who started this thread described an intent to replace his smartphone with a dumbphone paired with a "pocket computer" running "ordinary Linux, not Android." Unless you're using the phone for a lot of calls and texting, it's probably not much worse to do it all from the "pocket computer" or laptop than to have two separate devices. In any case, I traveled overseas ~12 years ago with no phone and just a white MacBook, so I'm aware of some of the compromises required, things like saving pages and making screenshots of maps, always on the lookout for places likely to have free or inexpensive wifi.