Dumbphones are dead, right? So why – at the time of the great Windows Phone 7 resurrection – is Microsoft pushing a totally separate phone platform that doesn’t even run apps? The answer is borderline insane, but just might work.
Soon, every internet-connected device will make “phone calls” – Xbox, iPhone, laptop, whatever. Data is data, be it voice, text or video. Carriers should charge for data – more even – but leave off the dumb premiums for voice and SMS.
After making lame excuses to the FCC for their suddenly doubled ETF, Verizon has now partially backtracked: The ETF is only doubled for phones people actually like! Cancel those dumb featurephones whenever you want! You’re welcome, America.
Despite the N900 looking like a return to the days of quality Nokia phones, it’s announced it will halve production of its smartphones in 2010, instead concentrating on dumbphones, or “mid to low end smartphones,” as they see it.
The first rule of dumbphones: They shouldn’t cost more than smartphones. This shall not be broken. The second rule of dumbphones, or really all phones: An announcement should be accompanied by useful information about the product. So, Sprint—what the hell?
