Nokia dumbphones vs. other smartphones

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 06-08-2010, 03:33 PM

I just bought a dumbphone from Nokia to replace my BlackBerry. It sounds ridiculous, but I had to cut some costs and I (meaning my wife) decided to cut back on the phone services. I went to T-Mobile and got a Nokia feature phone. But I have to admit that I like it. The call quality is great. I charged it when I first got it yesterday and it hasn't been on the charger since. Still looks like it has 90 percent of the battery left. I have been making calls and sending texts too. The phone looks sweet too. I was looking over the specs of some of the other Nokia feature phones and they do just about everything. For example: syncing email and calendar with Microsoft Outlook, Ovi Maps, web browser (can download Opera), app store, email, music and video. Thats just about everything I used my berry for. I don't have all of that on my particular Nokia, but there were a lot of them that did. Just thought that it was a cool option for those who didn't want to pay smartphone prices, but wanted similar functionality. Is it a stupid thought to think that a feature phone is just as good as other smartphones?

**papped** · 06-08-2010, 08:51 PM

Feature phones tend to blur the line a bit between smartphones. Also in some countries like japan feature phones are more popular and have a ton of functions regardless.

That said, one downside to feature phones is that usually whatever is already packaged is as expansive as it's going to get. No major new changes with updated OSes, no 3rd party apps coming onboard (generally the apps get packed with the phone OS), etc.

The other thing is that while you can do a lot of the various things, if it doesn't do some of them very well, odds are it will never get any better...

The other is that the multitasking isn't usually anywhere near the same.

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 06-09-2010, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by papped

Feature phones tend to blur the line a bit between smartphones. Also in some countries like japan feature phones are more popular and have a ton of functions regardless.

That said, one downside to feature phones is that usually whatever is already packaged is as expansive as it's going to get. No major new changes with updated OSes, no 3rd party apps coming onboard (generally the apps get packed with the phone OS), etc.

The other thing is that while you can do a lot of the various things, if it doesn't do some of them very well, odds are it will never get any better...

The other is that the multitasking isn't usually anywhere near the same.

I agree. But I am willing to bet that there is a population of people that own smartphones that will be better off with feature phones. My wife for instance, has a BlackBerry smartphone. She doesn't know how to upgrade her OS nor does she care to. She never buys apps or tries to augment her device at all. But she does like keeping connected with family and friends through Facebook, Twitter, email, text, IM, and of course phone calls. She also uses the GPS a lot. She isn't big on browsing, but she uses it. For her, a feature phone would be better suited and cheaper for me. But she clutches to her Berry like no one's business. For consumers like her, I think that feature phones could be quite good. I didn't realize how feature packed these dumbphones have gotten.

**papped** · 06-09-2010, 12:52 PM

If she uses the push features on the BB then she is probably going to have a rough time transitioning to the feature phone though.

Yeah you can do email on a lot of phones, but the email experience tends to vary wildly based on the email client, email setup and keyboard (that and it's almost always polling email unless you setup an EAS, which is more complicated than your average consumer is probably going to bother with or have).

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 06-09-2010, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by papped

If she uses the push features on the BB then she is probably going to have a rough time transitioning to the feature phone though.

Yeah you can do email on a lot of phones, but the email experience tends to vary wildly based on the email client, email setup and keyboard (that and it's almost always polling email unless you setup an EAS, which is more complicated than your average consumer is probably going to bother with or have).

It's a moot point anyway. I wouldn't think of taking her bb away and replacing it with a dumbphone, she wouldn't let me. Even if it made more sense. She is tethered to that thing.

**avt123** · 06-11-2010, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by dwaynewilliams

It's a moot point anyway. I wouldn't think of taking her bb away and replacing it with a dumbphone, she wouldn't let me. Even if it made more sense. She is tethered to that thing.

So she got to keep her phone and made you switch? That's messed up.

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 06-12-2010, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by avt123

So she got to keep her phone and made you switch? That's messed up.

I have less of a need for it than she does though. Like I said, I was able to fulfill my needs with with a non-smartphone and it is a lot cheaper. But when it comes down to it, I make the sacrifices before she does and I'm paying the bill.

**avt123** · 06-12-2010, 08:00 PM

Ah, well hopefully your Nokia treats you well.

**JNM** · 06-29-2010, 11:56 PM

I guess I missed it but which "feature phone" is letting you do all of that? The only two Nokia phones that T-Mobile sells that can use Ovi maps and even Outlook are the Nuron and the E73.

**ItnStln511** · 07-06-2010, 12:37 PM

I've always been satisfied with Nokias

**Blouse and Slacks** · 07-19-2010, 07:36 PM

My new Kyocera Loft works tremendously.

**mmmburger88** · 12-12-2010, 12:31 AM

I have a nokia and it is like a loyal mate, not always the best but will stick by you and be reliable when you need it the most haha. Dumbphone is sometimes a great workd for it though haha

**Evan_O** · 12-29-2010, 01:52 AM

Nokias have, and always will be, solid devices at worst. I remember having the old school nokia devices and just how great the call quality was and don't forget how awesome the build on them was. Throw them against a brick wall and keep on talkin for goodness sake.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**Aussie Joe** · 12-31-2010, 04:19 AM

I have an Nokia E63, and it is a great little phone. I use it mainly as a text and voice phone while overseas (with prepaid sims). My Torch is on an international BB plan so all Internet/email is done through that. But having said that, the E63 does have email capabilities and I use it when I don't want to carry around two devices. But I do see an unlocked iPhone taking it's place over the next 6 months.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**infinus** · 01-09-2011, 01:04 PM

Smart phones are not really smart;
Its the user who makes smart use for that phone,

I had a samsung phone capable of loading java apps/games.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**tamhanna** · 01-10-2011, 05:59 PM

If you would tell us what Nokia you are on, I could tell you more.

Incidentially: most Nokia phones can run J2ME apps. J2ME is just MINIMALLY different from what runs on RIM devices (coded for both!)

**dwaynewilliams#WN** · 05-28-2012, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by JNM

I guess I missed it but which "feature phone" is letting you do all of that? The only two Nokia phones that T-Mobile sells that can use Ovi maps and even Outlook are the Nuron and the E73.

I just bought another Nokia the C3 touch and type. I haven't put it to use yet. I still have my trusty 8330 and haven't had a need to switch to the Nokia yet. But I will when my contract is up and I can switch back to AT&T. The Nokia is actually faster than my wife's 9930. It does just about everything other than gps. And with AT&T's $50 unlimited plan for prepaid dumbphones, you can't beat it. Plus it let's you tether for free. It doesn't have a full qwerty keyboard though. But I really don't need it that badly. Another plus is that the phone was less than $200 full retail. That's cheaper than a lot of the smartphones even after subsidy.