- Social dependence on the different applications that smartphones incorporate causes, in some people, anxiety and a lifestyle that they do not like too much. For this reason, dumb phones have resurfaced for those who need to limit their access to the Internet and only want to make and receive calls.
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| Making and receiving calls and text messages is pretty much the only thing you can do with them./ Pixabay |
We live in a hyperconnected world in which technological innovations are essential, both for social relationships and for our work. This evolution has been rapid and constant, however, for some, it may have been a bit hasty and there are those who want to go back to the old days: it is time for the resurgence of non-smartphones or, rather, dumbphones.
We refer to dumb mobile phones when we talk about basic devices, that is, with very limited functionalities compared to the latest models on the market. Usually, making and receiving calls and text messages is practically the only thing that can be done with them.
Why is it called a dumbphone? The answer is simple, if we know smartphones as 'smart phones', the opposite would be the 'silly' concept that refers to dumbphones. That is, it is a name used to distinguish them from current mobile phones.
However, what is the big difference with the current ones? Access to the Internet and, therefore, to any of the applications that we use in our day to day, leaving aside from scrolling through Instagram, for example. Although in its day we highly valued being able to listen to the radio or take photos that did not have much quality.
Apparently, they are very similar to the first phones we got our hands on in the late 1990s that we came to refer to as 'brick phones'.
The switch from dumbphone to smartphone
The mobile phone lived its golden age in the transition between the 20th and 21st centuries until in 2007 everything changed. The arrival of the iPhone changed the industry forever and small mobile phones with physical keys and low-resolution screens began to disappear. Although in principle, it was only a technological change, in reality, we were facing the birth of a cultural phenomenon: hyperconnection to the Internet and life in social networks.
Smartphones have become an inseparable companion for millions of people around the world. A device that is updated every year with new functions and that allows us to have all the power of a complete computer in the palm of our hand.
The rise in sales of dumbphones
Despite the great advantages of having a pocket device with a hyper connection to the Internet, many people live overwhelmed by the culture of social networks and impersonal communication through apps. For this reason, many need a way of disconnecting to live without this anxiety generated, sometimes, by new technologies.
According to a report from the software firm SEMrush, between 2018 and 2021, Google searches for phones of this type increased by 89%. And although the sales report is difficult to specify, the units purchased by consumers have increased in considerable numbers.
In 2021, Deloitte carried out a study in which it said that, in the United Kingdom, one in ten mobile phone users had one of these devices.
Benefits of these phones
As they do not have access to the Internet, there is also no need to worry about the data rate that we usually pay on a monthly basis. The economic saving option also enters the equation for many users, since it is cheaper than a smartphone, lasts longer, and also costs less.
The proactivity. The infinite applications that we can have downloaded on our smartphones make us spend a lot of time on them. The time that we stop dedicating to other activities and that we can realize when we acquire 'a brick'.
Nostalgia, retro, and classic are in fashion and, surely, many of us fondly remember our first mobile phone, which, depending on the age, was surely a dumb phone.
The durability and condition of the battery. Battery life is one of our biggest concerns in our day-to-day life.
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Security is another determining factor since theft or loss does not represent a big problem.
Dumbphone makers
The New York company Light Phone, the current manufacturer of this type of phone, has assured that in 2021 it recorded its best year of financial performance, with an increase in sales of 150% compared to 2020. And that their phones are not cheap, since prices start at 99 dollars.
Light Phone co-founder Kaiwei Tang explains that the device was initially created as a secondary phone for people who wanted to take a break from their smartphone for a weekend, for example, but now half of the company's customers company use it as their main device.
And the age range of comparators ranges between 25 and 35 years, something that was not expected with its launch, since they thought that buyers would be older at those ages.
The main functions of smartphones, currently, are not related to making or receiving calls. They are entertainment centers, wallets, navigation systems… even sending messages is a secondary feature. In addition, notifications and updates constantly break into our day-to-day.
The Light manufacturer has understood the need for disconnection in the world and is in charge of manufacturing the Light Phone, which is already in its second edition.
In fact, this terminal only allows you to send text messages and make or receive calls. The simplicity that can be seen from its screen, created with electronic ink, is very similar to that used by electronic book readers.