The Motorola i265 and what it has to do with the Maker Movement

Ever since I got my first plan based mobile phone, I have had the exact same handset; the Motorola i265 which predates flip phones. This phone has been a constant joke when I pull it out because of the high technology nature of the work I do (I use an Android phone and ipad for development, but not for calls). Why would I use such a relic phone? During the course of regular usage, I dropped this phone on cement and the microphone stopped working. In response to that, I purchased a specialized screwdriver especially for the phone; took it apart, and fixed the microphone.

Why would I do this when the nomenclature of current US society says; "Take it to the phone store and they'll get you a new phone"? Well, honestly I managed to achieve an unprecedented low rate on my mobile phone service, and didn't want to jeopardize the low rate I was paying or my "contract" with the mobile carrier.

So along with my trusty screwdriver I managed to utilize this phone up until May 2012 saving literally thousands of dollars in the process when amortized over the years. The lithium ion battery swelled a little, but never saw decreased performance because I normally kept the battery topped off; which is an excellent testament to Motorola's engineering capability several years ago.

Why did I mention the Maker Movement in the title? The mentality I had about this phone is directly in line with a movement in the United States, and around the world known as the Maker Movement. In my own words I think the Maker Movement is in response to ever increasing rapid change in technology and the pressure forced upon people to understand and utilize it. The results of the Maker Movement so far have been astounding and inspiring. I would selfishly consider myself an avid member of the Maker Movement. Being able to understand, and teach how things are built in the world around us allows people to benefit from understanding how to take advantage of technology.

In this rare example, simply by demonstrating the maker mentality, I was able to:

1. Save a lot of money on phone payment plans.
2. Save a minimal amount of money, not ever having to purchase a new battery.
3. Learn a small amount about mobile phone technology (the microphone has a neat touch contact, assembly and is not soldered).
4. Have an object that's a fun conversation starter.