What options will there be for people who don't want a smartphone after 2G is switched off?

[AY1975]

As mentioned in entry #39 of the thread on the gradual phasing out of paper tickets at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/paper-tickets-looking-a-bit-retro.247807/page-2 and in an article linked from that entry, all 2G mobile phone signals will eventually be switched off although not until 2033 according to that article whereas 3G is planned to be switched off by the end of 2024.

I presume this means that existing 2G handsets will no longer work once 2G is switched off. If that's the case, I wonder what options (if any) there will be for people who don't want a smartphone, only a basic mobile phone just to text and make calls. I would guess that this would apply to a lot of people in their 60s and 70s upwards who struggle with modern technology and can just about work out how to use a basic mobile phone, and parents who want their kids to have a basic mobile for emergencies but don't want them to have a smartphone.

2G phones can also be useful if you're going to be without access to a plug socket for several hours or days, for example if you're going camping, because they're less power hungry than smartphones. You can often just take the SIM card out of your smartphone and put it in a 2G phone. You can also do that if your smartphone gives up the ghost. You can't get at the SIM card in all smartphones, though.

Here's the article: https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...ctations-for-2g-and-3g-mobile-switch-off.html

 

[WelshBluebird]

You can get 4G and 5G dumbphones.

You can't get at the SIM card in all smartphones, though.

Pretty much all smartphones give you easily access to the sim card and have done since day 1.

There is a more recent shift in direction to e-sim's but these are still a tiny minority and even then nearly all phones that offer e-sim also offer a physical sim slot if you want to use that, so if being able to take out the sim and put it in a different phone is a key feature for you, you don't have to lose it.
If you do want to go down the e-sim route though, that basically gives you the option to change to another phone without even bothering to swap the sim (as long as it supports e-sim too).

 

[GatwickDepress]

You can still get very basic 'dumb' 'phones with no bells and whistles and a long battery life, like the Nokia 105 that utilises 4G. I have one for emergencies.

 

[Snow1964]

Nokia sell some 4g versions of basic phones eg 105, 110
they even have a 4g flip phone 2720

 

[AY1975]

You can get 4G and 5G dumbphones.

Pretty much all smartphones give you easily access to the sim card and have done since day 1.

There is a more recent shift in direction to e-sim's but these are still a tiny minority and even then nearly all phones that offer e-sim also offer a physical sim slot if you want to use that, so if being able to take out the sim and put it in a different phone is a key feature for you, you don't have to lose it.
If you do want to go down the e-sim route though, that basically gives you the option to change to another phone without even bothering to swap the sim (as long as it supports e-sim too).

I could easily take the sim card out of my two previous smartphones, but can't work out how to do it with my current one (which I've had for nearly four years). There doesn't seem to be any obvious way to get at the sim.

Will the switching off of 2G also mean that you will always need to access mobile data just to call or text, or will that be catered for by the ordinary 4G or 5G signal and you'll only need to access mobile data if you want to access the internet and there's no wi-fi (or you can't get the wi-fi to work) as now?

Currently, if you have a smartphone you have to use mobile data to access the internet without wi-fi but you can use the ordinary 2G signal to call or text. Reception when making or taking voice calls with 2G is often rather hit and miss, though: often my phone rings and I try to speak to the caller using a 2G signal if there's no wi-fi where I am, and I can hear them perfectly but they sound as if they can't hear me.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I could easily take the sim card out of my two previous smartphones, but can't work out how to do it with my current one (which I've had for nearly four years). There doesn't seem to be any obvious way to get at the sim.

What is it and we can tell you how? Normally you need a tool that comes with the phone to release a little tray with it in, but sometimes you can just pull the back off.

You have to be able to get to the SIM to fit it in the first place, I'm not aware of any e-SIM only phones (yet, they'll be along soon I'm sure).

 

[WelshBluebird]

I could easily take the sim card out of my two previous smartphones, but can't work out how to do it with my current one (which I've had for nearly four years). There doesn't seem to be any obvious way to get at the sim.

In terms of SIM cards, I suspect, as the reply above has said, this is likely just needing a sim ejector tool which is usually included with the phone.

Will the switching off of 2G also mean that you will always need to access mobile data just to call or text, or will that be catered for by the ordinary 4G or 5G signal and you'll only need to access mobile data if you want to access the internet and there's no wi-fi (or you can't get the wi-fi to work) as now?

You don't need mobile data for regular calls or texts on any network regardless of what generation it is and regardless of dumbphone v smartphone.

Currently, if you have a smartphone you have to use mobile data to access the internet without wi-fi but you can use the ordinary 2G signal to call or text. Reception when making or taking voice calls with 2G is often rather hit and miss, though: often my phone rings and I try to speak to the caller using a 2G signal if there's no wi-fi where I am, and I can hear them perfectly but they sound as if they can't hear me.

I'll be honest I can't remember the last time my smartphone had to drop down to 2G. Though I'd suspect if someone is struggling to hear you, there is either a hardware or network issue there that is unrelated to the dumbphone v smartphone debate.

I'm not aware of any e-SIM only phones (yet, they'll be along soon I'm sure).

I believe the iPhone 14 models sold in the US don't take a physical sim, but that is the only one I am aware of.

 

[david1212]

The specialist manufacturers of phones for the disabled with large buttons, high volume, single button SOS etc e.g. Doro, Artfone, Geemarc, TTfone and lesser brands/badges e.g. Uleway, Ushining logically will introduce 4G/5G phones for a SIM card and maybe a virtual SIM too as by 2033 SIM cards could be no longer issued.

Directly OTT but very relevant to this forum is that users of these phones who can travel independantly will need a ticket format other than an electronically stored Aztec code. While some may be able use a full size computer to buy and print the ticket others will either not be able to and/or for a variety of reasons not present the correct Aztec ticket at the gateline.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Directly OTT but very relevant to this forum is that users of these phones who can travel independantly will need a ticket format other than an electronically stored Aztec code. While some may be able use a full size computer to buy and print the ticket others will either not be able to and/or for a variety of reasons not present the correct Aztec ticket at the gateline.

There is presently no proposal to remove the ability to purchase a train ticket at the station in some form.

 

[brad465]

You don't have a phone, and as you won't have access to social media, news or what anyone else is getting up to, you'll probably never have been happier

 

[DarloRich]

Just buy a modern phone. It wont bite or steal your dna.

You are not obloged to use all the features.

 

[Thirteen]

I don't know anyone who has a dumb phone and I would imagine that by 2033, we'll have more of a digitally savvy older population,

 

[david1212]

Just buy a modern phone. It wont bite or steal your dna.

You are not obloged to use all the features.

I don't know anyone who has a dumb phone and I would imagine that by 2033, we'll have more of a digitally savvy older population,

You both totally miss out those who for whatever reason need a simple phone e.g.

Blind or limited vision so work by feeling the buttons. Top left / top right for pick up and end call then the digits. The number 5 key has a pip on it for a reason. A touch screen can not replicate this. For various reasons voice control may not be practical / useable.

Poor dexterity.

Limited mental ability.

Emergency call e.g. a fall. Most simple phones have a rear button which if programmed when pressed will call up to 5 numbers until one is answered.

Poor hearing. I have only ever found one smartphone with a ringing volume that can match the Artfone CS182 or Ushining M2302 or even the Virgin customised Alcatel VM560. That was years ago running Android 5 and slowly compared to a typical bottom end smartphone of the era.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If one has poor hearing, surely using a smartphone for textual and video communication will work better than a regular call? And who needs a ringtone when you can keep it in your pocket and use vibrate?

 

[AM9]

If one has poor hearing, surely using a smartphone for textual and video communication will work better than a regular call? And who needs a ringtone when you can keep it in your pocket and use vibrate?

So long as they are not visually challenged and their touch senses are adequate. Smartphones have features, (and hardware designs) that primarily save money for manufacturers, yet as each new version of Android or iOS is released they present a whole new layer of issues for inthose.not fortunate to have all normal faculties. Even hanging onto a phone that it's owner can just about master for limited functions, the phone industry does everything it can to force owners to update/upgrade, e.g updates to OS's, non-user chargeable batteries, etc.. Not very helpful for thos who inconveniently have to manage with hardware that the manufacturers and network providers constantly roll forward.

 

[najaB]

You both totally miss out those who for whatever reason need a simple phone

There are smart phones suitable for all of the examples you listed.

 

[AY1975]

What is it and we can tell you how? Normally you need a tool that comes with the phone to release a little tray with it in, but sometimes you can just pull the back off.

You have to be able to get to the SIM to fit it in the first place, I'm not aware of any e-SIM only phones (yet, they'll be along soon I'm sure).

My two previous phones had a little tray with the SIM in, as you say, but my current one doesn't seem to have one.

I've DMd you.

 

[PsychoMouse]

Blind or limited vision so work by feeling the buttons. Top left / top right for pick up and end call then the digits. The number 5 key has a pip on it for a reason. A touch screen can not replicate this. For various reasons voice control may not be practical / useable.

Poor dexterity.

Limited mental ability.

Emergency call e.g. a fall. Most simple phones have a rear button which if programmed when pressed will call up to 5 numbers until one is answered.

Poor hearing. I have only ever found one smartphone with a ringing volume that can match the Artfone CS182 or Ushining M2302 or even the Virgin customised Alcatel VM560. That was years ago running Android 5 and slowly compared to a typical bottom end smartphone of the era.

A smartphone negates all of these issues through voice control, haptic feedback, fall detection, a myriad of accessibility settings, ability to change text size, on screen magnifiers, Bluetooth>hearing aid compatibility.

The only reason people don't want to adapt new tech, not just smartphones, is stubbornness.

 

[AM9]

A smartphone negates all of these issues through voice control, haptic feedback, fall detection, a myriad of accessibility settings, ability to change text size, on screen magnifiers, Bluetooth>hearing aid compatibility.

The only reason people don't want to adapt new tech, not just smartphones, is stubbornness.

Presumably you don't have to or know anybody who has to live with some of these issues that have been wondrously fixed by software?

 

[Bletchleyite]

My two previous phones had a little tray with the SIM in, as you say, but my current one doesn't seem to have one.

I've DMd you.

It does, I've sent you a video of where it is, you'll need the tool that came with it or if you can't find it a bent paperclip may work.

 

[najaB]

Presumably you don't have to or know anybody who has to live with some of these issues that have been wondrously fixed by software?

One of my former co-workers is legally blind and uses a smartphone with high contrast mode and magnification turned all the way up* and I have another friend who has limited dexterity in their fingers and uses voice control. So yes, these accessibility aids do work for some people. No doubt there are people for whom they won't, but those people probably would struggle to some extent with a dumb/featurephone as well.

*Somehow though, he's able to see attractive ladies from a surprising distance, but that's a story for another time.