7 ms·

Feels like a solution looking for a problem to me. Not only are phones trending away from being "phones" (rather portable internet terminals) but I'd wager the

Feels like a solution looking for a problem to me. Not only are phones trending away from being "phones" (rather portable internet terminals) but I'd wager the largest portion of smartphone use is content consumption, rather than content creation/collaboration. Both of which would suggest this device is a long, long way from product-market fit.

ConradKilroy 7y ago
"a solution looking for a problem" my fave descriptive phrase :-)
troymc 7y ago
I can see this phone being a great fit for certain markets, such as senior citizens who like to talk on the phone, but who get baffled by the complexity of modern smartphones.
- nisse72 7y ago
  For about $50 you can (still) get a Nokia 3310.
  - dehrmann 7y ago
    Be careful with this. AT&T shut down its GSM network 3 years ago. The ~only unlocked LTE feature phone I could find a year or two ago for my grandma (who wouldn't be able to learn how to use a smartphone) was an Alcatel Flip 2.
    - Hamuko 7y ago
      There's a 3G variant of the Nokia.
      - ebg13 7y ago
        It still uses 900/1800MHz, so it won't work in the US.
      - paulcarroty 7y ago
        3G was deprecated by many networks too(hello, Verizon).
- Hamuko 7y ago
  I can't see any fit for any person outside of bragging rights. A senior citizen would be better served by a Nokia 3310, which actually has physical buttons.
  - ShamelessC 7y ago
    It's pretty much bragging rights. Or, put another way, it's an aesthetically pleasing signal to those around you that you're part of a movement trying to reduce screen consumption. The organic foods industry has these sorts of seemingly niche products which are more expensive but become quite trendy because of what they represent for the customer and their peers. Not sure how well it applies here though.
mrspeaker 7y ago
I think it's in the zeitgeist a bit now. Some people (I'm certainly one) are looking to unhook from their phones - get away from convenience and immediacy and... the internet in general (typing this from Emacs, so it seems more forgivable!). I know at least 5 people - a large percentage of my close network ;) - who would be interested in this device. I'm sure there's a big enough market for it if the execution is right. Though I'm personally waiting for Librem for the security/privacy aspects.
- cheez 7y ago
  Here's the main problem: I am the target market and I can easily just make my Android phone behave in this manner. I rarely touch it except to read on the Kindle app and cast to the TVs.
  - ShamelessC 7y ago
    I don't think you're the target market in that case. This phone would be for people who desperately want to reduce their phone usage but lack the willpower. Not saying that's a large market, but I do think it exists. At the 350$ price point though it seems more like it would be for wealthier people looking to signal that they're part of a sort of "offline" movement.
- dotnetcore 7y ago
  why not just put the phone down? i have a android phone but i don't check it 24/7 and sometime i even let the phone ring. you can treat your smart phone as old boring phone by using it like a old boring phone.
  - lostgame 7y ago
    You significantly overestimate people’s level of self control and also the amount of money time and effort companies put in to make these technologies addictive.
- nradov 7y ago
  Your network isn't representative of the broader market. Only a tiny niche are actively looking to unhook. Sure plenty of people will claim they want to do so because they think they ought to. But they're not willing to pay actual money for it.

ConradKilroy 7y ago

"a solution looking for a problem" my fave descriptive phrase :-)

troymc 7y ago

I can see this phone being a great fit for certain markets, such as senior citizens who like to talk on the phone, but who get baffled by the complexity of modern smartphones.

nisse72 7y ago
For about $50 you can (still) get a Nokia 3310.
- dehrmann 7y ago
  Be careful with this. AT&T shut down its GSM network 3 years ago. The ~only unlocked LTE feature phone I could find a year or two ago for my grandma (who wouldn't be able to learn how to use a smartphone) was an Alcatel Flip 2.
  - Hamuko 7y ago
    There's a 3G variant of the Nokia.
    - ebg13 7y ago
      It still uses 900/1800MHz, so it won't work in the US.
    - paulcarroty 7y ago
      3G was deprecated by many networks too(hello, Verizon).
Hamuko 7y ago
I can't see any fit for any person outside of bragging rights. A senior citizen would be better served by a Nokia 3310, which actually has physical buttons.
- ShamelessC 7y ago
  It's pretty much bragging rights. Or, put another way, it's an aesthetically pleasing signal to those around you that you're part of a movement trying to reduce screen consumption. The organic foods industry has these sorts of seemingly niche products which are more expensive but become quite trendy because of what they represent for the customer and their peers. Not sure how well it applies here though.

mrspeaker 7y ago

I think it's in the zeitgeist a bit now. Some people (I'm certainly one) are looking to unhook from their phones - get away from convenience and immediacy and... the internet in general (typing this from Emacs, so it seems more forgivable!). I know at least 5 people - a large percentage of my close network ;) - who would be interested in this device. I'm sure there's a big enough market for it if the execution is right. Though I'm personally waiting for Librem for the security/privacy aspects.

cheez 7y ago
Here's the main problem: I am the target market and I can easily just make my Android phone behave in this manner. I rarely touch it except to read on the Kindle app and cast to the TVs.
- ShamelessC 7y ago
  I don't think you're the target market in that case. This phone would be for people who desperately want to reduce their phone usage but lack the willpower. Not saying that's a large market, but I do think it exists. At the 350$ price point though it seems more like it would be for wealthier people looking to signal that they're part of a sort of "offline" movement.
dotnetcore 7y ago
why not just put the phone down? i have a android phone but i don't check it 24/7 and sometime i even let the phone ring. you can treat your smart phone as old boring phone by using it like a old boring phone.
- lostgame 7y ago
  You significantly overestimate people’s level of self control and also the amount of money time and effort companies put in to make these technologies addictive.
nradov 7y ago
Your network isn't representative of the broader market. Only a tiny niche are actively looking to unhook. Sure plenty of people will claim they want to do so because they think they ought to. But they're not willing to pay actual money for it.