John's Phone: a minimalist cell phone

This is a very good idea executed poorly. SMS has become a way of life and you'll be receiving messages that you can not read, also a paper phonebook requires that you carry a pen with you.<p>Play it again, John, this time with a pager sized (text) display and I'll buy one.<p>edit: added the (text), it <i>does</i> have a display but can't display text messages.

It did not get a very good review from Engadget:<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/06/johns-phone-review-the-worlds-simplest-cellphone/" rel="nofollow">http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/06/johns-phone-review-the-wo...</a>

Where are all the phones that are minimalist in <i>size</i>?<p>We used to have quite small phones in the turn of 90's—00's but now that the smartphones are everywhere, and even for non-smartphones everyone is assumed to want internet and lots of features, the current phones are so big and come with such a big screens that my first Nokia 1611 has <i>stopped</i> looking like stoneage in comparison.<p>Something similar to MacBook Air but a phone would be cool.<p>Thickness closer to 5mm than 10mm. Slightly larger than a USB stick. A clamshell design would be a must to make it long enough to reach both ears and proximity to mouth. Something that you can certainly lose in your pocket, something almost invisible.<p>We could certainly manufacture those these days.

I've seen them, and they are very annoying. Not having an address book is annoying, and not being able to <i>receive</i> text messages is just frustrating. It's an awesome idea, but not for use in real life.

I got my dad a Doro HandleEasy last Christmas. He is actually using it (which is amazing in itself). <a href="http://www.techpin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/doro-handleeasy-330-and-handleeasy-326-easy-to-use-cell-phones-2.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.techpin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/doro-handl...</a>

I like it, but mostly for the gimmick value. I think to be truly * usable* and <i>simple</i> it absolutely has to have a phonebook / speed dial of some kind.<p>"If you love it simple" is their tag-line, but I don't really see anything simple about having to reference a piece of paper and then dial a 13 digit number each time I want to call home.

I don't think I could survive very long without an electronic address book.

It's good for old people and aggressive people that frequently like to throw their phones away, because they are cheap. Nobody else will buy it just because its got a "minimalist design".<p>The iPhone has only one button.. seems even more minimalist.

What my local operator is offering is this:<p>ZTE S202<p>Specs: <a href="http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/products/mobile/mobile_detail_291.jsp?mobileName=ZTE-G%20%20S202" rel="nofollow">http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/products/mobile/mobile_detail_291...</a><p>Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClXKPRDzLI&#38;feature=player_detailpage#t=94s" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClXKPRDzLI&#38;feature=playe...</a><p>The price is 70 euros. The buttons have nice a tactile feedback, it has a screen and even looks okay.<p>Sure, this thing has a better branding, nicer website but the product itself is inferior and costs more.

Seems like they have a rather minimalist web server as well:-/

More expensive than a phone that can do more? Laughable pretentious rubbish.

&#62; John’s Phone is 10.5 centimetres in height, 6 centimetres in length and 1.5 centimetres in width (4.1”/2.4”/0.6”). Weight: 95 grams.<p>If it wasn't too big and heavy, I'd order it right now!

I just sent a link along to my mother, who has been wanting a no-frills big-numbered mobile phone that has a long standby time. I think it's perfect for those, like my mother, who don't use SMS, electronic address books, or any other "fancy" features of modern mobile phones. The numbers being big so that she doesn't need to take her glasses out is also very good. The only down side I can see is the review on engadget that said the switches are a bit finicky. But then again, it's not like it's $400 either :)

Looks good - but: the battery indicator is very unintuitive: full battery: JOHN ...... low battery: J<p>why is this? cant it just be "HIGH" and "LOW".

agree with most comments here that the pen/paper address book seems a bit out of place. i'd imagine that the swivel door to keep the address book is quite cumbersome and certainly this would add unnecessary weight. also i feel that the simplicity of the design is somewhat ruined with handwritten entries in the address book (see link below for a picture):<p><a href="http://www.johnsphones.com/store/johns-address-book/item89" rel="nofollow">http://www.johnsphones.com/store/johns-address-book/item89</a><p>i'm all for minimalist designs, this phone seems to segment a very niche user base that is only interested in using phones to call people, however small that is, i'm sure there's a market. though the price point conflicts with this as i feel people in this market segment are probably looking for low price as well.<p>some additional comments, a video on the webpage would be nice showing the interface for navigating through an address book or adding contacts. i think the dial buttons are nice, but imho the slide buttons on the side of the phone are a bit arcane, perhaps individual buttons would be more modern.<p>i'm actually quite attracted to the general design of the phone, the keypad is laid out quite simply, the lcd at the top is out of the way and quite utilitarian. i'm a smartphone user myself (nokia e72), but i'd love to have this phone if it included bluetooth and i'm quite curious as to the ease of use of the phonebook because i really hate storing numbers by keypad. based on the design, it'd be nice if you offered a higher end john's phone, let's say you added bluetooth, a 5 MP camera, and a micro SD storage slot, you'd have a pretty good shot at getting some premiums for people that are looking for something fresh in comparison to iphone/android.

And no SMS.. :( Would have definitely considered if it had SMS...

It's a jitterbug for hipsters.

Interesting. I agree with the SMS comments. I almost entirely SMS. Mostly only business and family on Talk.<p>Two years ago I did a "simple phone" concept. Mine was touched based. Never progressed it, to busy with other things. I find it funny that somebody did.<p>Here was my rough design. <a href="http://bit.ly/fTz643" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/fTz643</a>

Already? so soon? I think people need some more time with their smart phones.<p>I like it that my WinPhone7 pulls phone numbers from my Outlook (office email), Facebook or Windows live. Making an acquintance online and automatically having the number in my phonebook is natural and works.<p>I think we need some more time with smart before simple gets niche again.

I want one but I live in Japan.<p>I swear, i never thought it would come tothat. Dunno why it won't work if my iPhone works :/

This is perfect for my parents. They don't use address book, they won't read or write SMS (need to click too many buttons) and they need to use glasses to see the buttons. I'm really tempted buy 2 for them. Although it's unnecessarily expensive considering I can buy a really good and light non-brand mobile phone for £5-£10

I fail to see how this is minimalistic.

I had thought that maybe the phone was intended for older folks who need clear, easy, familiar buttons on their phones.<p>But it seems to be more of minimalist hipster gadget. As such it really does need some form display. I don't know anyone under 50 who doesn't SMS.

This would be perfect if it had an amazing antenna hidden in there. It would be the first cell phone I've had since my first car phone that was actually good at being a phone...which would be WILD!

What's funny is the phone calling functionality of my iPhone is the one feature I wish I could have removed. I just want internet, text, and iOS and I'm happy.

Amazing. I need to get one of these for my grandfather.

Am I the only one thinking that the screen is on the wrong side and this is a very poor choice UX-wise?

Where's the bump on the digit 5?

would be a lot nicer without the pen and paper + mirror combo, smaller too<p>perhaps implement a solid text to speech service for converting texts to auditory messages

Slashdot effect in progress. Anyone have a mirror?

also as to how these things are designed. i'd love to try hacking one together. perhaps i'll find some info on the blog.

Is there a mirror? Page seems to be down :(

mirror: <a href="http://www.johnsphones.com.nyud.net/" rel="nofollow">http://www.johnsphones.com.nyud.net/</a>

Where's the bump on digit 5?

the large buttons appear to increase the chance of butt dialing.

Novel design, although not something entirely new. Swedish telephony equipment manufacturer Doro has for several years had a number of "senior citizen" cellphones on the market in the same geist as John's Phone, some of them even simpler. A few models even include an assault alarm.<p>This model's design is interesting in how clearly it speaks about what demography it's aimed at: <a href="http://www.doro.co.uk/products/Mobile-phones-and-accessories/334GSM/" rel="nofollow">http://www.doro.co.uk/products/Mobile-phones-and-accessories...</a>

I always wanted something like the old Nokia 7280 for a second (small) phone for times when I don't want to carry my expensive smartphone but I could never get myself to buy a second phone...<p><a href="http://www.livingroom.org.au/cameraphone/images/thumbnails/1_7280.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.livingroom.org.au/cameraphone/images/thumbnails/1...</a>

I'd buy one just for the name. :P