What happens when you no longer have to be connected while on the go? You become simple. Your life isn’t dominated by constant bombardment from incoming emails, tweets, and IM messages. While to some this might sound crazy, I decided to cut back on all the “noise” and experience a simpler form, and enjoy a simpler mobile experience. When I decided it was for the simple reason of being satisfied. I wasn’t finding satisfaction anymore with my mobile experience. I explored different types of handset manufacturers without any results. Sure they were interesting (for the moment), but they couldn’t hold my attention. Its later that I would realize that I had made a fatal mistake a several months earlier that would put me into this mobile phone limbo. I had such expectations for the little computer known as the N900. But, my pre-order was having a hell of a time being filled and my impatience got the better of me. I let it go. This one action would end up as a huge snowball on my front door steps many months later and it was a decision I still regret.
After much delay (do in part to the supplier) the N900 would finally release, and the ones that stuck it out would experience pure joy (maybe not pure, the N900 did launch with a couple issues, but overall was receiving great feedback). I, on the other hand was left empty. At the time I was dependent on E71, a handset that I had purchased a couple years prior. It still brought me joy, and it worked well. But I was craving something new, something exciting. After a couple weeks of debate I finally bit the bullet, I bought a BlackBerry 9700. At the time the BB was only a couple weeks old and it had a great reputation amongst users. I quickly started to understand why so many BB users were happy. A sturdy (yet stale) platform, quality hardware (built like a tank) and most of all the amazing battery life. This thing could go for days with a single charge while being online, tweeting, messaging , etc. Sadly, the “new phone” effect was starting to wear off after a couple weeks. I sold the BlackBerry.
Not finding what I needed out of a mobile and the N900 being past its prime in purchase date (a couple more months would results in Nokia announcing the N900 replacement), I decided to revert to something that I started with. I standard T9 mobile flip. Interestingly enough I had to “borrow” this mobile from another family member as it was not being used. They were surprised to say the least. They were even more surprised when I was still using it a couple months later. Its like I had given up, I was at the bottom of the barrel. I had let go of all things that I had embraced fully for a majority of my mobile device career.
Initial reactions by close friends and colleagues? Yeah, I got a bunch of “WTF’s?”. I also got a ton of questions. They couldn’t understand how someone like me, a person who was immersed in mobile phone technology, who had the latest and greatest for most of his life concerning mobile devices would go to something so basic. It was difficult to explain and I never tried. I always brushed it off with, “I’m just waiting for the next handset”. At first I was, but after a couple months I realized that I was content with what I had. Its at this time that I finally realized, I wasn’t a connected person anymore. I didn’t need to share my life as much as I thought I did. I didn’t need to have the internet on my hip 24/7. I didn’t need a digi cam at all times. Hell I didn’t even need a music player anymore. Sure, I miss the occasional google maps when I’m stuck or lost. But I just plan my day better now (yes, I print a google maps, just like the old days). I have moved away from convergence. I have become a different person. Sure, you must be stating that maybe this sounds overly dramatic, but it was a true experience for me. It was something that I only realized once I started putting into words.
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Managing Editor of The Mobile Fanatics. Email: timi@themobilefanatics.com
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