[luk3ja]

I don't know about you but my grandparents are only interested in calling and texting and only want a cheap phone but the problem is that all the cheap Nokia phones are quite complicated to use and are definitely not idea for the older person with poor eye sight. As Microsoft would own Nokia's low end feature phones too after the acquisition I thought I would create a concept for a new OS in Windows Phone style for their cheap phone the Nokia 100. It is based around simplicity of being appropriate for someone who just wants a cheap phone to call and text and nothing else. So on the main screen you press either of the two buttons under the screen to get to calling or messaging or you can start typing in a name or phone number and then choose if you want to call and message that person. Here is the concept...

[Nokia Boy]

Great idea,my grandfather have the nokia 100 and at first it was hard for him to use it ;)

[luk3ja]

It's strange that there is actually nothing simple out there

[Qtweeder]

It's strange that there is actually nothing simple out there

never heard of doro?

[luk3ja]

never heard of doro?

Yeah I have, their phones have bad reviews and they aren't as simple as this concept and their UI is ugly and old fashioned.

[xandros9]

i really like this idea

[12Danny123]

i really like this idea

Agreed. Since Microsoft is keeping the Nokia name for Asha phones. Make asha devices run WP and Microsoft will sell more than 60 million which is how much Nokia asha phones Sold in Q3 2013

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[xandros9]

Agreed. Since Microsoft is keeping the Nokia name for Asha phones. Make asha devices run WP and Microsoft will sell more than 60 million which is how much Nokia asha phones Sold in Q3 2013

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

they won't be able to shoehorn WP into things that basic and cheap.

but if they skin the UI to follow standard Modern conventions and integrate some MS services, it should work out nicely :)

[12Danny123]

they won't be able to shoehorn WP into things that basic and cheap.
but if they skin the UI to follow standard Modern conventions and integrate some MS services, it should work out nicely :)

Unless they make WP8 run on WP7 specs, surely they can achieve that. Or make a WP lite version with the WP app store

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Indistinguishable]

I really like this idea. I can see it being a huge hit with the older half of the babyboomers.

[radmanvr]

Grandparents are some what clumsy at least mine are that's why I got them indestructible phones.

[Guytronic]

I'll try not to come off as insulted being 1 year past 6 decades along.

(kidding there)

Simple phones will always have a place in all age markets I believe.
I'm a senior geek and have the time to read and learn about most of these devices and the software that drives them.

I like to follow the reviews on retail websites as a gauge of where the trends of the common core populace are pointing.
Sadly seems evident that a large number of humans across all groups aren't exactly geniuses when it comes to tech.

Just because a 19 year old college student has the best of the newest doesn't mean that person understands the breadth of function hiding in even the most rudimentary smart device.
Generally most folks have difficulty fathoming technology so the "sheep syndrome" rules.

We have to remember the button pushing public has little interest in hanging out on a tech site or reading through a device quick guide.
They'd be simply smarter if they did tho...

[anony_mouse]

Not sure why you would need WP (or any other smart phone OS) on a simple phone. Based on my experience, a basic phone for the elderly would have the following features:
- Large, clearly marked buttons that are easily distinguished by sight and touch, not too close together and following normal design patterns.
- Simple, clear display showing only necessary information and also following common design patterns.
- No touchscreen!
- Clear UI with words rather than pictures (or both).

The Nokia phone pictured above is not bad for this purpose. Unfortunately a lot of cheap Nokias have buttons that are hard to distinguish by touch, and Nokia's UI has some confusing features (what are the numbers in the menus for? they don't work as shortcuts). Some of them seem so poorly designed that I wonder if they ever did any user testing - for example, buttons for opposite functions next to each other so you often press the wrong one (e.g. send next to cancel). I think Sony Ericssons from five years ago were probably the best simple phone UI design I've seen.

[AngryNil]

Metro on a slow as hell phone at a resolution worse than the original GameBoy will be no different to what's already out there.

[luk3ja]

Metro on a slow as hell phone at a resolution worse than the original GameBoy will be no different to what's already out there.

It's not Windows Phone on a cheap phone, it is a separate OS just designed nicely and because it will be a flat UI it will perform faster because there are no gradients to render. All it is is the current Nokia OS on that Nokia phone but ripping out 80% of the unneeded junk features leaving just call and text, this would also make it a lot faster and 100 times easier to use.

[Terence John Vidal]

WTF are you saying, Nokia Asha phones to be exact the 200 series have a dedicated button for Messaging, Contacts or Calls, Facebook and Whatsapp. You even can change the function of the button. And the UI is not complicated when you press the menu you can see the applications such as Messaging, Contacts, Log, FM Radio, Settings etc. Also people doesnt just text or call on a phone, they also use it as an alarm clock, calculator, Flash Light, radio etc so they are not junk features.

[Indistinguishable]

WTF are you saying, Nokia Asha phones to be exact the 200 series have a dedicated button for Messaging, Contacts or Calls, Facebook and Whatsapp. You even can change the function of the button. And the UI is not complicated when you press the menu you can see the applications such as Messaging, Contacts, Log, FM Radio, Settings etc. Also people doesnt just text or call on a phone, they also use it as an alarm clock, calculator, Flash Light, radio etc so they are not junk features.

Live tiles. That's what he's saying. Though, I do agree. You want to keep alarm clock & calculator.

[index1366]

I like the concept, I hope it will come into use someday.

[etad putta]

It's a dying market. Sorry if that is not appropriate. If you are home bound a simple house phone will do fine. Please show me stats that show any amount of 21-25 year old people that prefer a feature phone over a smartphone. More Smartphones Were Shipped in Q1 2013 Than Feature Phones, An Industry First According to IDC - prUS24085413

[etad putta]

And more....Feature phone sales fall for the first time in India: Report

[Indistinguishable]

"It's a dying market. Sorry if that is not appropriate."

Woah! That was some dark but clever humor.

There is a market for feature phones and there will be for a very long time. I myself carry one along with my HTC Trophy. I love the reliability of my feature phone's battery. My Trophy will get me 24-30 hours of moderate use max. My feature phone is great for all other times when I'm on the road or otherwise unable to charge my device.

Not only that, but I believe it's telling to look at mobile web browsing market share. Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world, yet accounts for only 28% of mobile web browsing while IOS is somewhere near 70%. Most of these individuals who have Android smartphones use them as feature phones. I'm not saying that feature phone's market share is going to grow or cease to diminish. But there's a market for it, and as the new owner of Nokia's mobile device division, Microsoft should capitalize.

[Reflexx]

As long as expensive data plans are requires with smartphones, there will be a market for feature phones.

This is across all age groups.

[Guytronic]

Just remembered something (doesn't happen too often)

Texting...
...on a basic phone is a pain.
What could be easier than voice texting on WP?

I know some people want hardware buttons over that mysterious and delicate glass digitizer.

[Reflexx]

Just remembered something (doesn't happen too often)

Texting...
...on a basic phone is a pain.
What could be easier than voice texting on WP?

I know some people want hardware buttons over that mysterious and delicate glass digitizer.

The advantage of texting with a regular cheap phone is that you can feel the hardware buttons. Back in the day I could type out long winded texts without ever looking at my phone.

[Guytronic]

The advantage of texting with a regular cheap phone is that you can feel the hardware buttons. Back in the day I could type out long winded texts without ever looking at my phone.

I'll agree ^
Used to pound out storybook texts with my BB curve.
When the BB was stolen I bought a Nokia X2 for the interim.
I never did figure out how to type on that phone even though it looked pretty much like the BB.