Post #1328555 · Elektrine

2026-04-14 22:00 UTC

Not shitting on the idea but I bought a FairPhone5 that includes to what this suggests. Each main component (so not chipset) can be unscrewed and replaced easily, chsrgrt port, camera, speaker, removable battery. As of next month every major telco that owns infrastructure in the contrary will have blocked the IMEI (the first part identifies the phone and model) and will be unusable. Even unusable with a data only sim. It will only work on WiFi. Guess im just venting but id love to see how this concept could help in the situation.

Replies (4)

@umbrella@lemmy.ml 2026-04-14 22:44

change the imei to a samsung's lol but yeah, those decentralized long range radio comm networks are looking better by the week.

Open ##1328560
@NOPper@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-04-14 22:21

Oh shit, I haven't heard about Fairphones being blocked at IMEI level. Any good sources?

Open ##1328561
@pirat@lemmy.world 2026-04-14 22:20

Why will they be blocking the IMEI?

Open ##1328562
@SuspciousCarrot78@lemmy.world 2026-04-15 06:22

That sucks but it sounds familiar. And not even a data only sim works for pure data? Are you in Oz? The only thing that I can think of is a mobile / pocket wifi...but then you're carrying two devices. If you *are* in Oz, I can suggest a reasonable, local, cheap and not terrible dumphone-with-tethering that could suit that use case (plus you know, be an actual phone lol). Suprisingly decent for under $170. Might even be able to forward calls from it to your FairPhone (as it runs Android 8.1) Once my main phone (2019 Samsung) bites the dust, it might actually become my main daily driver again (with small tabet as OTG compute)

Open ##1328563