Your Best Phone Option May Be A Flip Phone
By Jarren Ringle
Frequently we see ads for the newest and best smartphones made by Apple, Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and others. We see them making movies, taking beautiful photos, playing 3D games, messaging, and scanning documents. They are using AI to create, research, and explore. They give us travel directions and connect to our cars and TVs. They play movies, read books, wake us up, and time our eggs. They listen to us and recognize our faces. Honestly, they are amazing.
But how many times have these ads shown smartphones making or answering a phone call? We know they can act as a phone but that seems like an after-thought. Essentially smartphones are computers that can make a phone call.
Before smartphones, we had landlines. Our phone rang and we picked it up. Then we got flip phones so we could make and get calls when we weren’t home. We still had the home phone but we felt better connected or safer with that flip phone there if we needed it.
As we became more accustomed to the flip phone we may have decided we no longer needed a landline and the associated cost. That transition from the landline to the flip phone was fairly easy. After all the flip phone was a phone with a few nice extras like a directory and a simple camera.
And then, the big jump to smartphones happened. Many kept their flip phone and didn’t see the need for all the bells and whistles. But the cell service technology changed and our older flip phones stopped working.
This is where it got complicated. Our carrier wanted us to move to a smartphone or our children thought we should have a smartphone. Our friends sent us pictures and we wanted to see them and take our own. Texting became how “the younger folks” communicated and they wanted to text us. Our doctor wanted us to install a portal so we could see our test results or ask for a refill. The list goes on and on.
Yes… if you know me you know I am a “techie”. I’ve had smartphones since the first generation iPhone. Before that, I had a PDA (personal data assistant or PalmPilot) and a Nextel phone. I am already using AI (artificial intelligence) and the new shiny widget is like a homing beacon.
But do I think everyone needs the new toys? No.
If you want a phone, not a computer, it is perfectly OK to get a flip phone. The new flip phones are inexpensive and are available from carriers and big box stores like Best Buy. They will be very dependable and relatively easy to use. If you don’t need or want all the smartphone features, don’t feel ashamed of having a flip phone. You are buying what you need not what others think you should have.
Smartphones are great and have many amazing features but when you need to make or get a call, the flip phone will get the job done.
Jarren Ringle is a member of SourcePoint and a volunteer instructor. SourcePointers come to Jarren for tutelage on their tablets, laptops, and the most popular of all devices – cell phones. He teaches various technology classes throughout the year including one-on-one sessions and group classes. Jarren also volunteers at the Delaware County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. With many years of project management experience in various technology fields, he enjoys helping others with technology.
Technology 1:1 Assistance: Jarren Ringle provides guidance on technology in a 45-minute time slot. Do you have questions regarding a cell phone, PC, laptop or tablet? Share what the device is and what your question is upon registration so that Jarren can be better prepared to help. >> Schedule your 1:1