fossman

I don't have to imagine. I've already traveled internationally with the Librem 5 and it can do what I need it to do. Esim is supported with an adapter like those from JMP, but I use a local SIM card from that country. Whatsapp I never use, Signal and Delta Chat work fine.

Opt out of the duopoly by getting a freedom Linux phone like FLX1s from FuriLabs, or the Mecha Comet with cellular modem. Or if you're technical, you can install postmarketOS on a Fairphone 5 or OnePlus 6. Sendero Linux sells refurbished ones with pmOS preloaded.

Librem 5 / Liberty Phone will be working well after many of these Androids reach 'EoL' and end up in the landfill.

That is because it is modular and supports hardware upgrades (like a computer which it is), something unheard of in the mobile world.

Purism already released a Wifi/Bluetooth hardware upgrade, and according to their newsletter, a cellular modem upgrade is in the works.

Linux is coming there too, see Raven Prism and Monaco Glass for example.

Yeah, all of them claim that... but I just walk into the bank and say I don't have an Android or Apple 'smart' phone, only a Linux pocket computer (Librem 5). So they could either buy me a duopoly smart phone, or let me log in via web browser with physical token or other MFA... or I take my money elsewhere.

I have several bank accounts in 2 different countries, and all of them backed down either gave me a hardware token or let me use the web app.

If an institution is holding your money hostage until you are forced to run their surveillance-tracker-infested malware on your personal device, that is a much bigger problem than what OS or device you choose.

That's why I understand the appeal of permission-less Open Source freedom money like Bitocin (BTC) and Monero (XMR).

If 'society' can mandate garbage on us, that is a bigger problem.

Are you saying the e-gov platform cannot be accessed using their website on a computer? So people without smartphones are excluded?

I need a head phone jack too, but I guess using a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter is way cheaper and simpler than engineering a brand new Linux phone that caters exactly to everyone's preferences : )

It may be possible to install Ubuntu Touch or Droidian on it...?

It's possible to register a Signal account using signal-cli. Available on Flathub, and also Alpine repos. You can use a mobile number or a landline. I use Signal Desktop on a Librem 5 and everything works except the camera (for video calls) unless I plug in a webcam. The camera does work with other apps though.

$50 per phone would not make them enough money to pay developers. You would be left with a worse version of the Pinephone. We can't pay peanuts and expect the situation to improve significantly.

I agree. Is there any country that requires an app to file your taxes?

The trick is to never, ever install the banking app on your phone. If you only use their web app from the beginning (account creation) and say you don't have a duopoly phone, the app will not be required.

Well, if enough of us paid Apple level prices to Linux vendors, we would have Apple level Linux laptops and phones eventually. Not fair to pay next to nothing and then compare Linux to Apple.

They are just like tiny laptops, so you can certainly shutdown and swap the battery.

You're comparing a Linux OS (postmarketOS) to a device (FLX1). I think you meant to compare postmarketOS to FuriOS : )

FuriOS (and its base Droidian) are at a better stage of development for devices made to run Android using the old Android Linux kernel, whereas postmarketOS is better for devices made specifically for Linux, like the Liberty Phone, Pinephone, etc. Droidian will not even work on them.

This is also my approach. I use the bank websites. If any dirty fiat banking cartel or other group try to force their app down my throat, I simply take my money and go elsewhere!

This is the only way we can solve this. $$$ is the only language these crooks understand.

Me too. Too bad it can only be installed on Google hardware. Instead of giving $$$ to a surveillance corporation, I'd rather give it to small Linux phone vendors who are on the user's side from day one!

GrapheneOS is riding on decades of Google-funded development and is thus pretty great. Linux phone development never had that kind of funding but we are getting there slowly but assuredly through user funded development and community involvement.

Of course that's why we use and love GNU / Linux, because of snap and snappiness!

_ No GNU/Linux user ever

Please take my freedom in exchange for snappiness and security.

_ (a)NO(ther) GNU/Linux user

Users have the right to a secure deGoogled Android Linux after they give Google hundreds of dollars for a Pixel. _ Stickard G. Pallman

PostmarketOS on a Liberty Phone (upgraded Librem 5) works fine, and just gets better with each major update which is twice a year!

I'm daily driving the latest stable (24.12 now) on a Librem 5 with no major issues. VoLTE calls and SMS work fine although I couldn't care less as there isn't much reason to use unencrypted legacy comms in 2025 when we have Signal, Matrix, Delta Chat, XMPP, etc.

Secureblue has entered the chat.