# Is there a product that makes my cell phone more like a regular phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2012, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677 "2012-01-16T08:10:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/1 "2012-01-16T08:10:09Z")
I’ve been using a smartphone for the last few years. It does a lot of things, but it handles calls very poorly. It’s uncomfortable to hold, the touchscreen buttons aren’t easy to push, and the ear feel is nothing like the old-school kind of phone that was actually designed with ergonomics in mind. Is there anything that mimics the old phones but interfaces with the cell phone (maybe via Bluetooth)? Ideally, I’d like a little handset thing (corded or cordless) that has buttons like a regular phone, but can make and receive calls via my cell phone and hopefully synchronize my contacts from it too. Sort of the best of both worlds. Does such a thing exist? ---
**Author:** ![svrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/2 "2012-01-16T08:12:04Z")
Well there is this: [http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/) ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/3 "2012-01-16T14:34:45Z")
> [@svrider](#): > > Well there is this: [http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/) Just what I’ve been wanting! We did away with our land line and I loathe talking on the cell for all the reasons mentioned above. (On the other hand, since I haven’t been a teenager for a long time, maybe I shouldn’t be spending so much time talking on the phone anyway?) I think I’ll get it in red. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/4 "2012-01-16T15:02:12Z")
If you want the “buttons like a regular phone”, too, just get a bluetooth cell phone gateway that you can plug a phone into. If you were on cordless for your old landline, you can plug the cordless base station into it, and use your old cordless handsets. XLink is one manufacturer of such devices, but there are others: > **[Amazon.com: Xtreme Technologies Xlink BT Bluetooth Gateway - Black : Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Technologies-BT-Bluetooth-Gateway/dp/B00135XU7Q)** > > Amazon.com: Xtreme Technologies Xlink BT Bluetooth Gateway - Black : Electronics ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/5 "2012-01-16T15:44:11Z")
> [@svrider](#): > > Well there is this: [http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/8928/) That is too cool. I think I might have to get me one of those. (I also want to know where I can get the sweatshirt the model is wearing! :D) ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/6 "2012-01-16T15:53:14Z")
Check this out if you really want to rock it old school: [Portable Rotary Phone - Black - POR-00286 - SparkFun Electronics](http://www.sparkfun.com/products/286) ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-product-that-makes-my-cell-phone-more-like-a-regular-phone/609677/7 "2012-01-16T18:30:11Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > That is too cool. I think I might have to get me one of those. (I also want to know where I can get the sweatshirt the model is wearing! :D) It’s for sale right there on the same site. And yes, I want it too!