simple phone is, or rather will be, a new phone based on Android and on respecting the privacy of users and also on the distribution of open source applications. Why this counts is at an early stage of development, but its launch is confirmed, with many details that still need to be clarified.

Wondering where this simple phone comes from? OF Simple mobile tools, a project that has been providing a set of open source applications for Android for a year, which will replace several applications developed by Google and which are included in practice in all terminals by default. Simple Mobile Tools are especially popular with users of F-Droid, an alternative app store to the Play Store and the main repository of open source Android apps.

I’m saying that Simple Mobile Tools are especially popular in the F-Droid environment because of the nature that unites the two projects, not because the app first can’t be found in the Play Store, which it can be; but also because, as with many others, open source applications that cost money in the Google store are usually available for free on the F-Droid. And it is already known that there are many who prefer open source to proprietary, but there are more who prefer everything for free.

Be that as it may, Simple Mobile Tools have been branded as some of the most recommended alternatives to basic Android applications: calendar, dial and contacts, notes, gallery, file manager, clock, flashlight, keyboard, calculator, application launcher … A few Simple Mobile Tools applications have been developed for Android and, as you can see, they will be the basis of another Simple Phone that is not the only one .

Simple mobile tools – a simple phone

The developer of Simple Mobile Tools has moved other open source applications that accompany the outgoing Simple Phone, such as those that cover its function better than those of Simple Mobile Tools, or those that have not yet been accessed. For example, the FairEmail e-mail client. The Simple Phone announcement was made through the Reddit project and further details were revealed as a result of user inquiries.

“We have some interesting news today – we will launch our phone soon! Obviously, you will have our fully unlocked applications pre-installed. What other applications would you like to have? We don’t want to add any bloatwareBut I assume you all use a browser and probably an email client, right? Any suggestions for these or other applications? It must be open source, because the whole device will be focused on privacy. Stay tuned for more details! ”Said Simple Mobile Tools developer.

They said and did, in addition to the aforementioned email client, another suggestion that seemed to be quite popular to cover your browsing needs is the DuckDuckGo browser for Android. But what about the system itself? Like the non-scratch Simple Mobile Tools, it will be based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the basic code of the Google system, under an open license; as well as alternative components such as microG, free reimplementation of applications and user space libraries for Android.

As far as the terminal itself is concerned, little progress has been made, except that Simple Phone will cost departure about 350 euros, which can give an idea of ​​the type of device at the hardware level: at first glance and in relation to similar projects that have already tried it, a mid-range mobile phone, which should cost 100 or 150 euros less for features, but because of peculiarities – including trifles – project tend to increase their price. In addition, it will only be available in Europe at first.

For more details and the future of Simple Phone, the thread referenced on Reddit has been on fire for several days now. We will tell you what this initiative is about when it is appropriate. In the meantime, have you tried any of the simple mobile tools? Some I have been using for years and they work very well. I recommend you take a look.