The manufacturer explicitly positions the device as a response to constant availability and what it considers problematic mechanisms of modern smartphone platforms. In conversation with heise, Commodore CEO Peri Fractic describes the Callback 8020 as a “not stupid dumbphone” for people who want to spend less time scrolling and more time in the real world. It is envisioned as a secondary device for staying reachable without being constantly exposed to the temptations of a smartphone with its notifications, apps, and games. The decision was influenced by his young daughter and his own behavior: “I was addicted to my smartphone,” says Prei Fractic.
Fantastic. We need more people like that.
This is nothing to do with the interests of Big Tech, this guy has used old Big Tech design to sell a nice looking product, for a premium price. People in general don’t like to part with that much money for something that is described as a “secondary device” that limits their capabilities in a way that they should be able to do themselves. Most smartphones already have digital wellbeing and parental controls on them. There are also tons of guides and apps on how to limit or restrict things on your smartphone that you can buy for a fraction of the price.
His pricing is all wrong, no doubt he will sell a few at that price to collectors, enthusiasts and some people that think it’s worth it. But at the end of the day, at this pricepoint, the phone will surely fall by the wayside.
There are plenty of other phones trying with the same idea, but similarly, the high prices put people off, and many of those have premium features (ghost phone, light phone) The ghost phone also offers cheaper alternatives. For a retro look you have the Punkt phone or many others.