Brilliantly simple idea! SpareOne Emergency Phone

AimlessWanderer · **on:** September 02, 2012, 05:52:50 PM

I just stumbled across this and thought it was a brilliant idea that someone should have thought of before

An emergency mobile phone (calls only - no text or silly apps) with a little built in torch that'll take a AA battery and sit there happily with 10 hours of call time for 15 years. Just pop in your SIM card when your phone goes flat, or even call 911 or 999 or 112 without a SIM .... brilliant!!

http://spareone.com/spareone/spareone-emergency-phone

N_N_R · **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2012, 06:17:48 PM

Wow! Interesting... very interesting! Thanks for sharing

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2012, 06:43:05 PM

That makes sense- a phone is one of the most effective emergency tools you can get. It makes sense to have a backup just in case.

Def

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Whoey · **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2012, 06:55:33 PM

cool idea...

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2012, 07:00:26 PM

Now that is a good idea

jzmtl · **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2012, 08:34:52 PM

I've seen that before, it's really a solution looking for a problem IMO. Since you need a SIM to make a call anyway so you already have your regular phone, a spare battery is smaller than extra phone. And if you need 911 ability, any old phone without active service can call 911 as long as it can receive signal (legal requirement in US/CA, not sure about elsewhere).

enki_ck · **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2012, 08:42:25 PM

I saw that one a few months ago. It looks OK at first glance but it's not.

It has no display, so no SMS capability. And in a weak reception area there is a better chance for an SMS to get through than a phone call, also if you do manage to place a call it doesn't mean the person you are calling will be able to hear or understand you over that weak signal.
Also no display means you can't use your phonebook off of your SIM card. An I for one know only maybe 5 phone numbers, stopped remembering them when I got my cell phone.

The one that got my attention some months ago is an AAA phone for the Indian market. I wish I could get one of those.

http://www.91mobiles.com/olive-v-g2300-price-in-india

Also I found this Phillips phone from some 4 years ago that also can run on an AAA battery..

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2008/02/14/finally-philips-aaa-enabled-cellphone-in-production/

Does anyone know of a newer and more widely available phone that can run on AAA or AA batteries and has SMS capabilities?

Also I'd rather just carry an old backup phone with a fresh battery if mine gets wet or broken. I always do it when I go camping or on a longer trip. I have a spare phone battery in my EDC anyways.