Question of the Day #24

"What? You're still using a feature phone?
"Yeah, I just don't think I need a smartphone."

上記の会話で、feature phoneの意味は？
In the dialogue above, what does "feature phone" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：スマホではない携帯電話。つまり、いまではガラケーになる。もとはと言えば１９９０年代にできた言葉で、高機能携帯電話（ただの通話以上の機能）のことだったが、スマホの出現でこのように意味が変わった。
ちなみに、折りたたみ式のガラケーは、flip phoneという。

Answer

According to PC Magazine:

"A cellphone that contains a fixed set of functions beyond voice calling and text messaging but is not as extensive as a smartphone. For example, feature phones may offer Web browsing and e-mail, but they generally cannot download apps from an online marketplace.

The "feature phone" moniker made sense when they were introduced in the late 1990s, because they included more functions than a regular cellphone. Today, the device is more a "featureless phone" compared to the ever-expanding functionality of a smartphone.