LG VX-1000 (Released 2007)
I've been asked on numerous occasions "What's a good alternative to the Nokia Communicator?", and each time I'm asked I'm stumped. Is it just the design you're after? Is it the enterprise-centric apps that come with the Communicator?
Well, the only answer I have is that there isn't a good alternative to the Communicator look wise. At least nothing that has been released in the last year or two. Software wise, yes, there are plenty of good phones out on the market varying on what operating system you feel comfortable with.
My main go-to when recommending an alternative is the BlackBerry Passport. It's the only device currently that not only gives you a touch screen, but also a QWERTY keypad. And since it's from BlackBerry, you know it's business orientated with all that entails. Update January 2018 BlackBerry continues to release new phones, one of the latest is called the KeyOne which sports a physical QWERTY keyboard.
If you just want a fun phone that looks the part, there are numerous older phones (if you can't find an actual Communicator) on eBay that can be had for a cheap price. One such being the above pictured LG VX-1000. It's not a powerhouse, but if you're only going to text and make calls, it'll do it's job nicely.
Alternatively, if you're looking for something rugged Casio has you covered. Again, this is an older phone but has a couple of bells and whistles the LG doesn't, it's called the Casio G'Zone Brigade. Since it's released in 2010 versus the LG VX-1000 released in 2007, it's slightly faster and can cope with more demanding tasks. They're also plentiful on eBay, however due to their reputation as being tough, watch out as the majority of them are extremely abused.
If you'd like to go a totally different route, an Apple iPhone with a keyboard is a good alternative. No, Apple hasn't released an iPhone with a built in keyboard, but there's a company that sells a rather nice case that has a slide out bluetooth keyboard that pairs with the phone giving you a nice QWERTY keypad. Read more about that here.
If you know of any modern phones that mimic the design of the Nokia Communicator, feel free to email me and let me know!
