No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
BasicPhoneOnly
Enthusiast - Level 2

Although Verizon is retiring its 2G/3G/4G non-HD Voice CDMA network on 31-DEC-2020, as of 18-AUG-2020, there are no 4G/5G Basic phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard (e.g. slider type) available for purchase.  My family has purchased Basic phones with a physical QWERTY keyboard (slider type) for last 10 years and does not want any flip phones or so called 'smartphones'. 

Verizon, please work with phone manufacturers to offer a 4G/5G Basic phone (slider type) with a physical QWERTY keyboard before 31-DEC-2020.

Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
blackopsjeep
Enthusiast - Level 3

Blackberry has announced a 5G phone for verizon available sometime in 2021. This link has some info but not about Verizon although I seen a link to that as well. I'll look for it.

 

https://www.pcmag.com/news/new-blackberry-with-keyboard-coming-in-2021

Tags (1)
Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
BasicPhoneOnly
Enthusiast - Level 2

Blackberry is not a basic phone.  The ask is for a basic phone with a QWERTY keyboard - preferably in the "slider" form factor.

Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
blackopsjeep
Enthusiast - Level 3

Then define basic phone. If you mean basic bare bones, that will be a dumb phone like a flip. Regardless of whether it's a Galaxy or Blackberry, those are still basic phones. Even prepaid phones are all smart phones these days. The days of dumb phones like flips are almost over. The blackberry isn't special. It's still a basic smartphone like any other. It's. Also android with a physical keyboard. 

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Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
BasicPhoneOnly
Enthusiast - Level 2

Basic phone = phone and text; without those Orwellian behavioral tracking invasion of privacy programs (also know as 'apps' on so-called 'smartphones').

Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

There aren't enough customers interested in qwerty slider basic phones for the MANUFACTURERS to justify the cost of developing and manufacturing that style of phone. 

 

Your petition should be directed to the manufacturers and not the carriers. 

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
Tigerstep
Specialist - Level 3

Even basic phones are running a dumbed down version of Android these days so you aren't really escaping any of that with a flip phone.

Unless you're using a niche version of Linux, use duck duck go to search or a browser not based on Chrome, you're still being tracked. There just isn't a market for slider phones anymore. Cheapest basic phone like the Orbic has a 1 star rating and good flip phones like the ones from Kyocera cost the same as an entry level smart phone.

Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

BasicPhoneOnly,

 

I can definitely understand wanting a phone that best fits your needs. Privacy is a concern for all of us. I can confirm though that even basic phones today have applications and web options and most of them actually have since before smartphones were even around. They are more limited in this regard than a smartphone, but they don't completely remove such options. There are however security and privacy options available for download on both Android and Apple devices that can help to manage privacy if you choose. I will absolutely lift up your feedback regarding your preferred phone options though.

 

AndrewT_VZW

Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Basic phones haven't gone away. There are still several to choose from and they're very dependable. We have a great selection to choose from on our website at http://spr.ly/6609HHlcX. Having the right basic phone to meet your needs is always important!

RobertC_VZW

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Re: No Slider Phones for 4G/5G in 2021?
BGradley
Enthusiast - Level 1

We specifically want a slider basic phone with a qwerty keyboard