Frankly, these days a so called “feature phone” is going to cost more to develop than a so called “smart” phone.
I’m coming back to this thread to voice an opinion I have already seen on the forum.
Seeing the recent discussion about security patches, I think Fairphone should use the Fairphone Forum as a more official way of communicating. The fact that only you, @formerFP.Com.Manager (and perhaps @lorahaspels, I don’t know), are following the things happening on the forum is a bit strange. Things voiced here are pretty important. I’m not saying it should replace the support team, certainly not, but that it should be nearly equivalent.
As a regular forum member, I sometimes don’t know whether pointing the user to the Fairphone support is better than mentioning @formerFP.Com.Manager in the thread (well I suppose one, and then the other).
Fairphone support would be the official way to get things repaired, but FP could answer pending questions on the forum more quickly and more easily, the security patches for instance.
I would also obviously ask this way a bit more transparency, and easier way of telling things. I know the articles on the blog are copied here for a discussion, but apart if someone mentions you, the discussion doesn’t bring much, and for an official way of communication we are told to contact support. This is what I would ask about transparency.
To sum it up because I’m not very clear 
:
I think it should be defined whether the forum is a official way of communication for FP, as you sometimes do to answer redundant questions (which I would think is a good idea), or not (which in my opinion brings FP farther away from the consumers, and not a good idea), as in the moment, the forum is half official.
2 Likes
Nice topic! Time for some blue sky thinking 
By 2030 I’d like to be able to buy all sorts of electronic items and know that they are fairly made:
- Fairly sourced materials
- Fairly treated employees thoughout the supply chain
- Fairly treating the environment at all stages of the product lifecycle
All of the above to Fairphone’s standards or other standards which Fairphone consider to be suitable.
Here’s how I’d like Fairphone to achieve this:
- Influence governments to implement laws to ensure that fairness as defined above is mandatory - for this Fairphone must show that people care about this either by selling enough products or by other less tangible means
- Certify other manufacturer’s products meet Fairphone’s standards by auditing their supply chain - for this Fairphone must show that there is sufficient value for other manufacturer’s to want to do this
- Provide consumers (us) with alternative ways to buy electronic items which aren’t available to meet Fairphone’s standards - for this Fairphone either have to sell items in these other market sectors (laptops, desktops, monitors/TVs, smartwatches, tablets, single-board computers, microcontroller boards, kitchen appliances, even cars!) or provide a way for consumers to pay a premium to mass-balance and otherwise provide support to the supply chain to compensate for the fact that the original manufacturer of the item didn’t do this (I know this is a controversial topic, some people say this is just paying to remove guilt and doesn’t actually improve the situation (like carbon offsetting), but this would be another way to support point 2).
To do all this, Fairphone need to:
- Promote the Fairphone message better to governments and consumers
- Sell more phones!
- Sell other things too!
- Provide a supply-chain auditing service to other companies
- Provide a mass-balancing scheme and other means of improving supply chain working conditions and environmental impact directly to consumers.
To provide a practical example of the point about mass-balancing etc, take something small, which is already pretty ethical, but could be made even better: the Raspberry Pi. The supply chain already meets various requirements because it is made by Sony in their factory in Wales, however, things can still be improved. Fairphone could work with Sony on the supply chain for the Raspberry Pi to improve it and then certify it (unlike Sony would cooperate unless Raspberry Pi Foundation insisted) or there needs to be a way for consumers (like me) to be sure it is already fair by other means (e.g. laws) or by doing it ourselves, such as mass-balancing and paying into schemes to improve working conditions and environmental impact.
Cheers 
Cheers
2 Likes
My wish for the future: Timely Rollout of Google Security Patches
1 Like
I hope “human” population will stop at 9 billion, most people in the world are unconscious organic assembly/collection machines, hardly alive, we need more consciousness. The coming of AI is inevitable, silicon machines will replace carbon machines which will recede into virtual realities.
The phones in all probability will become implants.
Ecology will become a vain cult as the real conflict is still not addressed.
I don’t want to spook anyone, I got a Fairphone so I must be hopeful, but probably simply an absurdist.
Maybe the phone as we know it is already dead.
Fairphone staying fair is all that they can do and should do.
Hi!, While I don’t own a Fairphone at this time I’ve been keeping an eye on it, I would like to suggest an expansion of your product line, multiple main modules (a higher end, mid -level, economy and a feature phone model) 2 screen options(HD+, 1080p ?), a headphone jack, various camera options, etc… , so people could build their own Fairphone to fit their budget and requirements, I might add I live in the U.S. so working with the major U.S. cell networks would be great.
Of course this would have to be done within your company’s structure and philosophy.
I have been VERY resistant to buying a new phone since my last (an LG V20, the last good somewhat accessible top level phone from LG).
I hope to join your movement soon.
2 Likes
I really hope that there will be an active Fairphone users’ community in the UK by 2030.
More 3rd party modules:
I have been following Fairphone for some time now and there is one thing still surprises me. I have not seen any 3rd party modules. If you have seen any, please let me know.
3D print cases, holders, etc:
I thought why not at least 3D print a backplate for the phone and add QA charging, even with the sacrifice of a 2 mm thickness? Maybe someone would add an extra battery for a long trip or something.
Inter-compatibility between phone generations
The beaten up question about the camera (this might apply to the speakers, battery, maybe even screen). Why aren’t they backward compatible? Like why not someone with FP2 buy a camera from FP3 and use it? For me, being able to exchange parts is a part of the modularity concept. It is good that they are easy repairable sure, but phones are not upgradable (well, ok, there aren’t any upgradable phones at all, but has anyone tried?). The only thing that I can see is that there are 8 and 12 megapixel cameras for FP2 but that is about it.
OS/Double boot
I wish there was an option to ditch Android for Linux or something. However there are apps that are used for identification and banking that will not work on Linux. I tried SailfishOS with their Android layer but apps like Swedish BankID do not work there. So if double boot were possible, that would be awesome!
A phone with a smaller screen
I would really like to get a smaller phone with 4" screen. For the tasks that I do, that would be great.
3 Likes
The production is environmentally friendly, because as far as I know it is Fairtrade, can be repaired and they last a long time, but not produced CO2 free. Also an affordable + premium version of Fairphone for people with different needs to reach wider groups
1 Like
The thing is that if the forum would be an official communications platform for Fairphone,
- they would have to read each and every post because people would expect them to do.
- Also community participation would be less because why answer a question when support officials will do so anyway (and get paid for it).
- People would forget that this forum is public and post all kinds of sensitive information about themselves, like they would do in an official support ticket.
- The forum would change for the requirements of the support staff, instead of fulfilling the requirements of the community.
My idea for the future
Official funding for community booths at ecological fairs, with guidelines as to what can be funded and what the community members would have to do in return (e.g. social media material, report, etc.)
3 Likes
Many Things are going well already. What I can suggest for the next years:
a) I enjoy taking Photos with a DSLR and a 50mm Lens. Ist’s fine for Doors for example because you can keep lines horizontal and vertikal. It’s also fine for Portraits.
So I suggest to offer a corresponding Lens to 50mm for a DSLR for a further Fairphone (beneath other lenses).
b) ReneX suggested a Tablet. I had thought about that (“Fairpad” ?) too. As easy to repair as a Fairphone.
c) With the ePaper technology for the display a Fairphone could save Energy. The colours don’t have enough saturation yet but it’s getting better, for example Gallery plus by E-Ink. It’s not ready for phones yet but this might Change in some years.