When it comes to consumer technology, many people
are used to coveting the newest and shiniest gadget. So it may
come as a surprise that a number of top executives and
dealmakers are still clinging to ancient mobile phones.
Of these outmoded mobiles, one stands out as the clear favorite.
By all appearances, it's the Nokia 6310, a model that was
discontinued more than six years ago. Among its devotees,
according to the Financial Times , are Martin Schulz, the
president of the European Union's parliament; retail mogul Philip
Green; and Julian Dunkerton, chief executive of clothing
company SuperGroup, which is publicly traded on the London
Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of more than
$1.6 billion.
Why would global leaders hang on to obsolete technology,
especially in the high-flying, status-conscious set they move in?
For one thing, old Nokias were built to last: They are hard to
damage (no touchscreen to worry about) and have a long
battery life. Also, being less connected can actually be an
advantage, improving your focus on what's important. With the
Nokia 6310, "I'm not bombarded with emails every minute,
allowing me to deal with the crucial stuff," Dunkerton told the FT .
And it turns out, an old "dumb phone" can actually serve as a
status symbol. It signals to associates that you can't be
bothered to check email every 10 minutes. Other people actually
like the retro aesthetics.
If you feel the urge to go back to the future, you would do well to
check online marketplaces. A search of eBay turns up a number
of Nokia 6310 phones for sale, with "buy it now" prices ranging
from $44 to $64. Not a bad price for a decent phone -- and a
little bit of history.
BRIAN PATRICK EHA
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