[tass]

By the time you build a basic phone, adding these features only costs a few cents more, so they include them to increase market share.

These days phones are generally built from a SoC which already includes more capabilities than just calls and text, and run an operating system which already supports those capabilities.

If you don’t want certain features they can be turned off (check how locked down you can make an iPhone via parental controls, for instance) but it’s hard to avoid paying for them in some way.

[Podgajski]

You’re not including the fact that they need some sort of wonky website for you to upload photos and add Podcasts. So it’s not just the phone they’re building but the whole infrastructure behind it.

And if what you said is true, then why give these kids light phones in the first place. I’m almost wondering if someone from the light phone company has some connection with that school.

[tass]

Sorry I’m not actually familiar with light phone, so I’ve had a look, and it is something sold that anyone can buy.

They’re trying to build something which people need to find at least a bit palatable. A phone without the ability to play music and podcasts would have very little chance of selling for $300, they’d be up against those senior-oriented big button phones which sell for incredibly cheap.

Edit: I’m also not seeing anyone say that their school allows only light phone