Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

[Jim Bow]

What was the impetus that generated the folding phone? Was there an upswell of demand?
Why is it still called a phone? Talking to an listening to another person is but a minor function.

Znet recently chastised Apple for not having a folding phone. Apple, in my mind, has never produced a product just to follow a trend.

My phone don’t fold.

[David G]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

'Folding' clamshell phones predated the current 'large' phones... and were popular, it seemed, for their compact form factor. My impression has been that the newer folders are still a work in progress. My d'in-law bought one for the 'cool' factor... and ended up returning it because of durability issues.

[Keith Wilson]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

Bigger screen, yet still fits in your pocket? Doesn't seem worth the complexity. Mine doesn't fold.

[Nicholas Carey]

Can't butt dial a folder. And it's smaller. That comes at the cost of complexity and fragility.

As to why? Probably a need for market differentiation more than any real need.

[CWSmith]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

The new ones actually fold the screen. I'm not convinced that the technology is ready for the amount of use and abuse it will experience. This is one technology I will wait a few more years to watch before I buy.

[rbgarr]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

182 years of landlines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGkf2dnYyII

[ron ll]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

I get the smallest iPhone I can get, currently the 12 mini. It’s slightly bigger than my old SE, which was a better size. I want one that not only fits in my pockets but also is easy to use one handed. If I need a bigger screen for something, which is seldom, I’ll use the iPad. It used to be that the smaller the electronic gadgets, the cooler. But when the market was saturated with that, they needed to change peoples desires to something different to generate more sales. I REALLY don’t want a bigger phone.

[Vince Brennan]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

My original "Phold-A-Phone" (sorry) was just so it would comfortably fit inside my jacket's wallet (breast) pocket and, at the time, it was something of a "wow" factor when you got a call, pulled out and flipped open the phone in one swell foop and felt (and looked) like Dick Tracy. Quite the 007 effect. (Ah, the days when THAT would have been a concern?)

[Jim Bow]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

You’re reminding me of my late friend an mentor, Ollie. In the early 70s he laid out $400 for the first Seiko digital watch. He said he was in a bar and a guy asked him about that thing on his wrist. He showed the guy how you push this little button and the tiny red numbers light up. The guy shrugged and pointed out how it takes two hands to tell time.

[Too Little Time]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

What was the impetus that generated the folding phone?

My phone don’t fold.

My wife and I both have cracks in our phone screens. A folding phone might prevent that.

Our notebook computers fold and also have cracks in the screens. So perhaps not.

[Joe (SoCal)]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

Yea but remember that satisfying slap shut when hanging up on Motorola razor on someone in anger ?

[Ted Hoppe]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

One day we will all have the simple likely a folding phone. It will also be misplaced or lost. Hopefully somebody will come check on us in person.

[ron ll]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

Yea but remember that satisfying slap shut when hanging up on Motorola razor on someone in anger ?

I prefer the quiet kiss my butt goodby when sliding their face into my back pocket.

[Joe (SoCal)]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

[sp_clark]

Re: Okay. We need to talk about folding phones.

What was the impetus that generated the folding phone?

Star Trek.

From Forbes....