John’s Phone

In a world of more and more complicated phones, John's Phone takes a strikingly different approach. This is the mobile phone utterly simplified.

It's along the lines of previous phones we've looked at from Emporia and Doro, though in some ways this handset is even simpler than either of those.

On the front is a large number keypad and buttons marked Hello and Bye which are used to answer calls and hang up. Rather than having a screen on the same front panel as the keyboard, the John's Phone's small screen is mounted on top of the phone.

It displays the signal level, battery and any numbers that are dialled or the numbers of calls the phone receives. The downside to this design is that it's not possible to easily look at the keypad and the screen at the same time, which can make dialling numbers a bit awkward.

Almost everything that might normally be found on a mobile phone has been stripped away. You can't send or receive text message using John's Phone, there are no games, no menus, no alarm and no array of irritating ringtones. It really is just a phone.

Even the address book has been removed. Addresses are stored in a small paper address book that is held in a compartment on the back of the phone.

To enter names and numbers, a pen is supplied, which slots into a compartment on top. It's certainly an interesting approach and one that has a certain charm to it. There is, however, a speed-dial function which was easy to set up and can store ten numbers.

On the side of the phone is a control for changing the volume when in a call, a slot for the Sim card, a switch for changing the ringer volume (the three settings are loud, normal and silent) and an on/off and lock switch.

The phone charges when the supplied USB cable is connected to a computer (the computer connection isn't used for anything else). The cable can also be plugged into the mains but you will need a UK plug adaptor to do so as the Dutch-made phone comes with a European plug. It also includes a headphone set for hands-free calling.
John's Phone has been unlocked to work on any network in most countries. We put in a pay-as-you-go Sim card for a UK network and it worked fine.

The phone is light at 95g although it's quite bulky to accommodate the large keypad and address book. The design certainly won't appeal to everyone, though it's available in several colours, with varying prices for each colour – we reviewed the rather unappealing brown version that costs €80 (£69).