3 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Being elderly is not a barrier to learning and to promote such an idea is patronizing and insulting. Of course there are rare exceptions. But what is being promoted is the

'won't' use a mobile phone not 'can't'. If someone is too disabled to use a mobile phone they need help. But age is not a disability. If someone is stubborn and deliberately refuses to use a mobile phone that is their right. But they do not have the right to people's understanding or sympathy. Their is nothing heroic or clever in opting out of useful, necessary technology.

I simply do not want a mobile phone

any any smartphone could crash with your sensitive QR codes.  it is an electronics device like a washing machine or TV.  Do not use it to pay, do not trust in it or in Google.  Print all, backup all your important codes

 

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

On that note, if I only want it for the vaccination app or similar, surely I won't have to have access to my email, or will I?

You need to have a data package to do anything more than make calls and SMS

With that you can go online via WIFI or use the 4G/5G networks.

You will have to have data to download the App and allow it to display on your fone.

I just went into my app and tried to save Certificate of Vaccination to Google drive, Gallery, etc and it did not allow me to do so.

18 hours ago, jerrybeirne said:

i flew chiang mai-bangkok return, took the train to hua hin, booked into hotels etc. without a smartphone recently.

i also applied for my covid passport in chiang mai yesterday, the person who served me was a little bemused i did not have one. but was still able to proccess my application with the documents i had. 

Hmmmm... I was there too and 4 people (including myself) applying for a vaccination certificate were all rejected for not having a smart phone. I had to drive home and back to get one but an elderly Korean woman and an elderly Thai woman were left out in the cold until the daughter of the Thai woman showed up to get her mother and had to use her mobile for her mother. That helpful young guy that was moving the queue along actually used his own smart phone to help the Korean woman apply for hers. So I don't see how you were able to pull it off?

11 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

whats best about those phones they are virtually hack free and 100% safe ..just give a faceless company all your banking info and all will be fine...batteries last 24/7..as does wifi and folks never lose phones either.......good riddance to carry a few paper bills folded neatly in my pocket.......kids these days are spoiled!    /s

Meanwhile.... back in the real world......

5 hours ago, xylophone said:

You make an interesting point, because I have an old Nokia flip phone, and I love it to pieces – – small, easy to handle, easy to read and I have gotten used to the "candy bar" keyboard.

 

I use it for phone calls and SMS messages and that's it, whereas my laptop sits at home and handles all of my emails and everything else, and I don't want my emails and all of the other rubbish following me around on a smart phone.

 

That being the case I really don't want a smart phone BUT I'm wondering if I could buy a cheap smart phone (keeping my little Nokia) and not bother to download all of the apps like Facebook, Line, Google or whatever else one puts on them and just use it for the app which one has to use when coming back into Thailand.

 

Trying to think this through, I suppose I would have to have another phone number for this smart phone, which doesn't worry me because it would probably only be used in an emergency anyway or when coming back into the country and who knows when that will be!

 

Then I could use the suggestion which "poohy" has posted? Sounds like a plan, but as am not going anywhere soon, maybe a plan for the future!

 

5 hours ago, seedy said:

Then do not turn it on until you want to use it.

You can set the fone to not give you any notifications.

 

5 hours ago, seedy said:

You would need to Root the fone to remove all the manufacturers apps.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)

 

4 hours ago, xylophone said:

On that note, if I only want it for the vaccination app or similar, surely I won't have to have access to my email, or will I?

You don't HAVE to download any app you don't want/ use. There's no need to root the phone and remove all or any apps (simply ignore them). There's no need for another sim/ number - you can use it where you have WiFi access for any app that needs Internet connection. 

Emails don't follow you by default - you actually have to set up the account on your phone in the same way you do in your computer, so if you're not interested, don't. 

However, you might find some benefits for using a smartphone with some communications apps such as WhatsApp or Line which you can use for sending text messages (similar to sms but with more options)  and make audio and video calls for free, not only locally, but internationally as well. 

3 hours ago, elektrified said:

Hmmmm... I was there too and 4 people (including myself) applying for a vaccination certificate were all rejected for not having a smart phone. I had to drive home and back to get one but an elderly Korean woman and an elderly Thai woman were left out in the cold until the daughter of the Thai woman showed up to get her mother and had to use her mobile for her mother. That helpful young guy that was moving the queue along actually used his own smart phone to help the Korean woman apply for hers. So I don't see how you were able to pull it off?

I believe that its only Air Asia that requires passengers to be vaccinated , I asked three other airlines and none of them required you to be vaccinated or have nay documents other than your passport and a ticket

7 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I also have a real camera, but it takes a few weeks to get the photos developed a I post them off to a photo developing company in Solihull 

Do you get the pics back glossy or matt ? I can never make my mind up which is best.

5 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I simply do not want a mobile phone

Sums it up for me........

 

I went to a restaurant an asked for a menu. The waiter gave me a QR code to scan for the menu.  I told them get me a real menu or I was leaving. They found one.