Lets create the PineCom

[NGOcustomer]

Hi @Luke,

We have read all the reviews and we aren't sure we fully understand the purpose of PineCom.
We read a lot of posts that talked about a house phone, toy phone, IoT relay.
If it's the customer aim of this PineCom, we are not interested.

If you want to make a affordable privacy-oriented phone , we think thousands of people would be interested.

Who we are

We work in a safety trainer network for NGOs in Western Europe.

We follow your work since the begining, think about how we can spread a FOSS OS phone in our network.
Price and usability of the Pinephone limit us. We are targeting computer security beginners.

Ten thousand activists fight for human right / civil liberty and against climate change .

Right now we have 3 option about communication.

1. People don't carry a phone and have no option to communicate with other, juste before, during and just after an action. Old school annoying way.
   
2. People carry their personal phone, even if everybody say is not a good option. They don't feel confortable with opt 1, especially when you are alone in middle of nowhere in foreing country by night.
   
3. Some rare people buy an extra phone and disposable sim card, both paid with cash. Cheap option with burner phone 40$ at least, 0 encryption, or expensive option with crypted app, chinese cheap smartphone, 100$ at least
   

Any of this option are really good for us, and your project can fix this problem

What we need

• An security oriented 2nd smartphone, with basic function
  
• Protect our life and rights
  
• Pretty user friendly software tutorial / ready to use hardware phone.
  
• Security phone OS support like Graphene OS or /e in exemple. Any live system like Tails / Qubes /Whonix with persistance will be the better (really better) option.
  
• Killswichs like Pinephone
  
• Stability than performances
  
• Easy removable battery
  
• Trust about the management of payment data & user shipping data
  
• Consider to WAT + shipping is 60$ in Europe at least, so ~ 100$ is a limit if you would be affordable for main part of people
  

We absolutly need a modem option, even a WCDMA one.

• Wifi is not easy to find everywhere. In fact we can just chat before and after, so will be not usefull for us.
  
• BT is too short range.
  
• Modem use battery, but with a HW swich, you can cut it when you don't need. And 3000 mAh is engought for a day use.
  
• Basic emergency battery cost 10$, can full reload your phone and is less than 150g.
  
• LoRaWan looks not very secure, regardless the study of SeungJae Na on Bit-flipping_attack or on this study Exploring the Security Vulnerabilities of LoRa
  
• LoRaWan don't provide enought speed for send E2E encrypted message fastly, but give same info about position than modem (triangulation)
  
• For 7$ you can find a basic sim card 1 week lifespan. With a app like Silence on a AOSP based Rom is fine for send encrypted SMS/MMSFor 14$ you have engought data for use an app like signal or telegram for small call / long text messages / picture
  

We don't need

• Expensive hardware for good perf. Pinephone exist for that
  
• High res screen. 720p is enought
  
• USB C is not universal for now. Micro Usb B is more common and everyone have a charger/cable
  
• uSD up to 2TB. 256/512 Go is engought
  

1. Do we need both a front and back camera on the PineCom? In fact, do we need any cameras at all?
   We need at least a back camera, for many uses. Pinephone back camera is ok.
   
   
2. Should we bring over all sensors present on the PinePhone? If so, which do you think we can do without?
   Low price is aimed, so just basic ones like accelerator + compass for GPS experience
   
3. Should we use the same single band/11n/BT4 WiFi module in the PinePhone (for compatibility sake) or change it out for a dual band/11ac/BT5?
   We need compatibility, so WIFIn/BT4 is fine
   
   
4. Should the device feature a GPS (and compass) or are those features redundant in this type of device? 
   We need it for many reason, in city side and country side
   
   
5. Should we include SPI flash?
   No needed. uSD card is easy to install, spead and easy to destroy.
   
   
6. We are currently considering following the PinePhone’s general design and aesthetic for the PineCom, but if there is some sort of physical (within reason - also financially) that you think would fit this type of device well then make sure to let us know. 
   Cheaper design is good, but keep swich. No need a camera swich, people use black tape.Hardened case or silicone case can be a plus
   
7. We’re currently thinking of using a 5” LCD panel for the PineCom; what do you think about this - is there a reason to go bigger or smaller?
   If it's cheaper, is a good option.
   

Bonus

E. Snowden view of a secure phone

[*]Market analysis

• Many common NGO have a tech budget line for their action worker. Right now they buy some cheap android phone. Prupose an secure and open alternative with switch (and modem) and you can find the solid basis of your mark
  
• Basic activist can find 150$ for a really secure phone (if there is easy to install tutorial for software).
  
• People interrested by basic privacy but want more features, can buy a Pinephone. This Pinecom can be your market spearhead's product.
  
• If all journalist is not the main target of this phone, bc some of them can have expensive secure phone solution provided by their boss, the freelance one can be interested by this kind of product.
  

[*]
Our 2 cents