4 ms·

Maybe there is a niche for a not-so-smart phone: like a dumb phone, but with a usable web browser. I could live with a phone like that.

• revorad 15y ago
  I totally agree. A good cheap tablet (weblet?) like that would also be very useful to me.
  • icebraining 15y ago
    That was the N800, a few years ago.
    • revorad 15y ago
      That's quite small (4 inches?). My ideal size would be that of the Kindle, like the HTC Flyer, but not as stupidly expensive.
• kenjackson 15y ago
  The problem is that this phone would likely be on the same data plan as smart phones -- especially as HTML5 comes of age. So while the phone might be marginally cheaper (a 3GS is what, $49?), it'll still cost you the same amount per month. That makes it a non-starter. That's largely what happened with the Kin. Of course the great untold story, is that the Kin is selling really well now -- as a feature phone.
• m0nastic 15y ago
  Microsoft tried that with the Kin. The problem (at least one of the problems) was that it still cost as much as a real smartphone. Particularly, the monthly plans were still the same, which I think makes potential buyers pause and say something like: "If I'm going to be paying this much money per month, wouldn't it make sense to at least have the ability to use apps, even if I don't need them now".
• MatthewPhillips 15y ago
  The Chrome OS phone you mean? I'd be all over it.