#cell2jack — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

Georgiana Brummell @[email protected] · 2026-07-31 · 20:52 UTC

*I've been blind all of my life and do not need technology training, for those who are wondering. I simply hate touchscreens and want a simple solution to a simple problem. Note that the double-tap on the back of the phone doesn't work for me.*
I need an alternative to my iPhone or my Galaxy A15 for making calls. I am totally blind and also have hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating). The latter isn't always bad, but when it is, it makes using a touchscreen more difficult. Plus, I have no patience with them, especially for a basic thing like making calls, even when my hands are totally dry. As it is, I just call from my contacts because I can't dial normally. I then spend several minutes trying to hang up because the call isn't always in focus, and when it is, it's difficult to find the end call option. When it's not, I have to try to get back to that window in the first place. I just want to dial a number, hit send, talk, and hit end. I believe my Galaxy can use the volume buttons for the last part, but it's a large phone, so I switched to the iPhone SE 2022. It works well for other things, but as a basic phone, it's annoying!

I'm considering a Blindshell 3, even though it is still much larger than I'd prefer. My other options are a MiniVision2+, and a SmartVision3. The MiniVision2+, at least, is the right size and much cheaper. All have real buttons. I use my iPhone to make and receive calls, to check the weather, time, and news, to set alarms, and to read printed text via Seeing AI. Rarely, I might change some Alexa settings or use Merlin Bird ID. Which phone should I get, or is there another option that I'm not aware of? I'm in New Jersey and am using Mint Mobile, if it helps.

I bought a Cell2Jack, which allows me to use a real phone connected to a mobile phone via bluetooth. When I called Mom's landline, it worked fine. When I called her mobile, she heard echos of her won voice, no matter what settings I changed. Otherwise, I loved it!

#Android #accessibility #blind #BlindShell #Cell2Jack #IOS #landline #MiniVision2+ #MintMobile #MobilePhone #phones #SmartVision3 #technology

#android #accessibility #blind #cell2jack #ios #landline

Georgiana Brummell @[email protected] · 2026-06-11 · 18:42 UTC

Perhaps, someone who likes vintage phones and whatnot can help me. I recently bought a Cell2Jack. This device allows someone to connect a mobile phone to a regular one via Bluetooth and use the latter for making and receiving calls. I bought it because I don't carry my mobile (iPhone SE 2022) with me and many times, when I'm outside on the deck, I don't hear it ring in the little house (the room on the deck) and I miss Mom's calls. I also hate touchscreens and trying to dial and hang up with them. I own several normal phones, but they're not available right now. The same is true of my stand-alone answering machines. I am trying to decide if I should get an ITT 2500 that I found on Ebay, or another Trimline, and just use one of them, or if I should get a phone with an answering machine attached. I have no interest in digital things. My requirements are as follows.

1. Dual cassette. It can be standard or micro, but I would prefer standard if possible. I don't want a single cassette because it has to rewind to the beginning each time to play the greeting, then fast forward to the next blank space, making the caller wait a long time before he can leave a message.
2. No endless loop recording tape. The only reason I am against this is that they are typically twenty or thirty seconds long, and if my message is shorter, it will still run the whole tape. But if a machine exists that doesn't do that, then an endless loop is fine.
3. No screen, menus, clock, etc. I don't mind if it puts indicators/time stamps on the recording, so that when I fast forward, it stops at each message. But clocks, menus, and so on won't talk and are therefore inaccessible to the blind.
3. Standard jack, not hard-wired. This one is obvious, but I had to add it because I once bought a 2500 that was and I couldn't use it.
4. (optional but strongly preferred Detachable phone cord. This makes things easier should something happen to the cord. I'm referring to the curly one that goes between the phone and receiver but also the one that plugs into the wall (or in my case, into the Cell2Jack).
5. Able to record my own greeting. I know some later AT&T phones have a pre-recorded message that can't be changed.
6. (optional) Bell ringer. This is not necessary at all, and some phones are completely fine without it. It's just nice to have.
7. (optional) Speaker phone. Again, this is not necessary, but it can be enjoyable.
8. (optional) Remote. I like the idea of having a remote (I think it's called a pocket coder but could be wrong) that I can use on another phone to check and delete my messages, and I have seen an answering machine which has this.

Right now, I am considering a few DuoPhones, a Unisonic Corded Trimline (must get model number), and the AT&T 1506, but I am very open to suggestions, particularly if you can reference one on Ebay in good/excellend condition. I know nothing about fixing the belts, changing parts, etc. so I need something that just works.

#AT&T #accessibility #analog #analogue #AnsweringMachines #blind #cassettes #Cell2Jack #CellPhones #DuoPhone #landline #MobilePhones #Panasonic #phones #technology #telephones #vintage