John's Phone: A mobile phone that can only make calls

We have been going gaga over apps and advancements in the mobile sector but amidst this frantic complexity there exists an antithesis which has been doing the complete opposite and succeeding at that. John’s Phone, touted as the world’s simplest mobile phone seems like a piece of technological advancement from the Stone Age. The phone has just one bare functionality; calling.That’s all you can do with this gadget. It has a notebook attached at the back wherein you can pen down your contact numbers. This phone from Netherlands which was launched in 2010 isn’t available in India yet but we're curious to know as to what people here think about it.

It’s pretty unbelievable but yes, the phone doesn’t have a screen. The number flashes on the top horizontal panel when someone calls.

The other quirky specs include:

• You can message only people around you. How? Separate pages in the address book are meant for messaging which you can tear off and hand over to the intended recipient.
• You can’t change the ringtone.
• A battery life of 3 weeks on stand by and 6 hours of talk time.
• The cost ranges from $100-$150 for the five models.
• Weighs in at 95 grams
• And again, it’s simple.

The phone might seem to be overpriced and it hasn't got great reviews but it’s amazing how something so primitive can be looked upon as novel in posterity. One thing that the John’s Phone proves is that it is imprudent to write off any idea completely.

We’ll be having our eyes on the John’s phone and would put in efforts to pry open the Pandora’s box regarding their expansion plans. Till then, we'd like to know what you think about this phone?

- Jubin Mehta