WHY don't phones have headphone jacks?

Tommy B · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:32

Does this annoy everyone else. All these "MP3 enabled" phones are useless to the most of us as you're limited to using the awful included headset.

Is there some sort of legal reason behind this?

Zefan · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:35

It's to establish exclusivity (Is that's a word).

quadboi · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:35

I dont think there is a Legal reason, but yes that does suck. My dad has a Sony phone (Pretty new) got like 30 songs on but no Headphone slot

LizardKing · 5 Mar 2006 at 08:54

some phones have a 2.5mm headphone jack that only needs a converter, or the w800 (maybe all of the walkman branded sonys do) comes with an adapter that alows you to use any headphone while still being able to use the handsfree function.
So at least there are a few phones out there that do

Alex_L · 5 Mar 2006 at 15:10

you can buy an adaptor that takes a 2.5mm to 3.5mm for about 1.50. Some of the walkman phones and HTC phones have proper 3.5mm jacks though. More and more phones do seem to be going this way though, i guess to compete with the ipod.

fatiain · 5 Mar 2006 at 16:00

Egay has adapters with microphones so you can use your regular headphones as hands free.

Jimbeam3678 · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:10

Think it has more to do with the fact normal headphone sockets take up more space then phone spefic phone jacks.

Could be wrong though

SMlFFY · 5 Mar 2006 at 22:48

LizardKing said:
some phones have a 2.5mm headphone jack that only needs a converter, or the w800 (maybe all of the walkman branded sonys do) comes with an adapter that alows you to use any headphone while still being able to use the handsfree function.
So at least there are a few phones out there that do

Same as the W900i Headphones. So you can plug in a decent Pair of Headphones in if desired.

-Mike- · 5 Mar 2006 at 23:26

My C550 has a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter and came with phono leads too. Seems more and more phones are giving you the option now.

Infidel · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:13

$ilent\\'@rrior said:
Same as the W900i Headphones. So you can plug in a decent Pair of Headphones in if desired.

the headphones included are dam good quality anyway

Tunney · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:24

The Nokia N91 has a 3.5mm socket....

...but it's not released yet.

Smiley Man · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:43

Infidel said:
the headphones included are dam good quality anyway

they are ok, but you can plug a lot better ones in

benjo plz. · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:48

Tunney said:
The Nokia N91

looks pretty fugly tbh.