[LINK] itN: '3G shutdown to affect more customers' access to Triple Zero'

[Tom Worthington]

On 10/4/24 08:01, Roger Clarke wrote:
> [ It's unclear whether this particular news is a bit of a beat-up, or 
> indicates a serious failure by suppliers and regulators.

Bit of both. The problem is it was assumed that if you had a 4G phone 
you did not need 3G. But it turns out many 4G phones are really 3.5G.

> [ What's the longevity of handsets been like?

There is a lively market in second hand phones, domestically & 
internationally. One problem with old handsets is the batteries. It can 
be difficult to source new batteries for old phones. Also the latest 
smart phones tend to not be easy to replace the battery in.

> [ Some people are into fashion-purchasing, and many delight in the 
> extended functionality that high-speed data-transmission has brought.

I doubt that most users could tell how fast the data transmission is in 
their phone. If it can stream video, what would they be using higher 
speed for? I use a 4G modem for home Internet, using the cheapest, 
slowest plan I could find.

> [ But many people *don't* live in the modern, 
> eyes-glued-to-screen-crossing-the-street world...

Many do. Recently I was at a Canberra Italian waterside restaurant 
admiring the twilight view. But a couple at a nearby table were not 
looking at the view, or each other, they were looking at their phones. 
Why spend money on a night out, when they could do this at home over a 
take-way pizza?

> Are there reasonably inexpensive options for them? ]

There are low cost smart phones using Android Go & refurbished Apple 
phones for under $100.

There are also low cost 4G feature phones available, usually called 
"seniors" phones, with keyboards, & simplified interfaces. There is a 
version of Linux for these phones KaiOS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KaiOS

Some low cost android touch screen phones are marketed to seniors with a 
simplified interface. There are even a few Android smart phones 
masquerading as feature phones, with a physical keyboard. Some are 
ruggedised, & marketed to tradies, rather than seniors.


-- 
Tom Worthington http://www.tomw.net.au
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