this post was submitted on 08 Oct 2025
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Greetings, I need MFA and a few other things for work. I'd like to swap to a dumb phone on my off times. I don't want to constantly swap out a SIM as it eventually damages the card itself.

What are my options? And is there a dumb phone you recommended?

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[–] Bags@piefed.social 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Can you talk with the IT team?
I was able to switch my MFA to a Yubikey.
They rolled out the MFA policy quite recently and I immediately sent an email like "Hello. I do not have a smartphone. What are my options?"
They also had the option for SMS verification, but I had been looking at getting a Yubikey for myself anyway so might as well get work to pay for it.

[–] LAN_Mower@lemmybefree.net 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Did. They were not very helpful on that.

[–] Pika@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

I mean, that's on the IT department in most countries. Like if you don't have a smart phone, you don't have a smart phone. If they want it for the job usually they would need to either provide an alternative or provide the device.

[–] jbloggs777@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 months ago

I have a second SIM card for my phone number (for a tiny fee) ... I need to direct where SMS go, but it rings on both.

You could probably also setup call forwarding from your work phone to your personal dumb phone - there will likely be an extra per-call cost.

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you tell me what you want to achieve, I might be able to help you.

[–] LAN_Mower@lemmybefree.net 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My goal is minimalism. I'm not sure if I will stick to it. But I want a distraction free life. No ads. No TV. No time durdling on my cell phone. No corporate overlords.

My wife and I realized how distracting a phone can be and I just want some good quality time away from it. But I work in tech in tech need authenticatorsamd on-call functionality. I want to separate my work and personal life as much as I can.

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Get a Pixel, put Grapheme OS on it. Set up a work profile. The work profile can be turned off manually or on a schedule, blocking any app within it including Google and any other stuff.

On your personal profile, use only Fdroid & Accrescent for your basic needs.

That's it.

[–] LAN_Mower@lemmybefree.net 1 points 2 months ago

The problem I have is pixels are really expensive. I just use base model phones. I know the used market is a thing. But really I just don't want as many distractions at times.

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago

HMD has released in India a semi-intelligent phone, the HMD Touch 4G, for (the equivalent to) 40€.

[–] RheumatoidArthritis@mander.xyz 1 points 2 months ago

Put the sim in a dumbphone and share internet to smartphone over wifi or bluetooth when needed

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 2 months ago

do you call much. tracfone its easy to pick up cards or up your minutes online. their unlimited is fine to but honestly I find the minutes more useful as I don't even like being on the phone.