It has recently been announced that there is a plan to relaunch the old Nokia 3310 mobile phone. Back in the noughties these were one of the most common types of phone to see around… and they were good. They were small, the call quality was good and the battery lasted ages. In those days mobile access to the internet was not even a distant dream.
I wonder what happened to all those old 3310s – are they lurking in drawers? Are they in landfill? Were they recycled?
Still in use after all these years
I never owned one myself, but my dad did pass on a 3410 that he got free, but couldn’t use because it was too small… and I can tell you what happened to that: I still use it. It has never had its battery replaced and it is still going strong. I don’t need a smart phone – I work from home where I have perfectly good internet access and I have a mobile phone to make phone calls when I’m away from home. I also have a laptop that is fine for longer trips away.
The constant demand for ever more complex gadgets means that we regard much technology as disposable, and this encourages the production of goods that are not made to last… after all, what’s the point? I am reminded of this from The Restart Project:
Worth remembering next time you are tempted by the latest new bit of technology.
The Snail of Happiness 
Nice piece of work
/ February 27, 2017I know you are right, and I had an old phone like that for years and years, and was perfectly happy. Until Rob bought me a newer, Smarter one. After two days of trying to get my head around it, I have to say I love it to bits now. I’m usually working when my fave soapie comes on, so I can watch it in bed later without having to set up the laptop 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 27, 2017I spend so much time at my computer screen because of work, it’s a great relief to get away from it!
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katechiconi
/ February 27, 2017We both have a 3310 sitting on the shelf in case of emergencies. Our smart phones are smart, but were the cheapest we could find, and we won’t be replacing them any time in the foreseeable future. I loved the old 3310, but I *really* love the ability to check emails away from home, the diary function, the alarm clock and pill-taking reminders, etc, etc. I recycled previous old phones, as I do with glasses, printer cartridges, clothes and packaging, but I simply couldn’t let the 3310 go… There was a talk show on the radio today with phone in from people who still loved and used theirs…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 27, 2017I think there are lots of them still in use. I take my laptop away with me if I want to check emails etc and I like having the freedom of not always being at the electronic beck and call of everybody all the time!
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Tanglewood Knots
/ February 27, 2017I work from home too so I seldom use my smart phone for anything other than texting and phone calls. I like some of the features of the newer phones, they are like a modern electronic Swiss Army Knife – you have all the gadgets you need in one package – phone, camera, clock/alarm clock, web browser etc…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 27, 2017What really bugs me is the constant upgrading – smartphones should be designed to last!
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Laurie Graves
/ February 27, 2017Our flip cell phone finally went, and we are considering what we should do next. (We, too, keep things until they no longer work.) We are seriously considering getting a Nokia, along with a smart phone, and ditching our land line. Because I go around to different events to sell my book, we have decided that a smart phone with a swipe makes sense. However, we don’t need two such phones, and the Nokia will be perfect for my husband when I am away.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 27, 2017Now that sounds very sensible – can you buy a Fair Phone in the US? They seem to be ethically the most sound… and repairable too.
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Laurie Graves
/ February 27, 2017I don’t know about Fair Phones. I’ll have my husband check them out. He’s the tech guy, and I follow his lead 😉
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nanacathy2
/ February 27, 2017Yes, the old uns are the best.
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Ann
/ February 27, 2017I wonder if they will re-lunch the Sony Ericsson 995 – I’m on my 3rd or 4th & think it’s a fab phone. I can only get second hand ones now, which are showing their age a bit.
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itwasjudith
/ February 27, 2017i’m not sure, but i think i have an ericsson like that somewhere. I still have some of my previous mobile phones, after I was given an old iphone (which is also staying until I probably will be given another one, as it’s still perfectly fine, as long as the software runs).
I didn’t ono about the Fair Phone, sounds interesting, thank you!
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arlingwoman
/ February 28, 2017My mobile company has lowered the cost of my phone because it’s…um…aged. The thing is, I don’t even use all the widgets IT has, much less a smart phone. I talk. I text. Internet, like you, I have at work and home. So…I’m happy with a phone that’s not hackable…and that costs less now than when I bought it.
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MrsCraft
/ February 28, 2017The frustrating thing about smartphones is the inability for some models to upgrade software. I had an iPhone which was useless within 6 months because it had no memory after an upgrade and nothing on it worked. I was told nothing could be done, so I put the sim in my brothers old phone and used that. It does concern me that so much technology is just considered as a consumable resource.
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Zahid Ameen
/ March 2, 2017indeed great phone and great days, beautiful nostalgia
see my page about nokia 3310: https://technewspoint.wordpress.com/2017/02/28/nokia-3310-everybodys-nostalgia/
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