zlacker

>>wicket+(OP)
Apologies if the idea is absurd, but wouldn't a Linux handheld without a cell modem be easier to build and distribute? Think something of an analogue to iPod Touches, which were iPhones sans the the phone part.

This would skip a lot of the regulatory red tape, bring down costs, and make the devices more accessible so they’re in more developers’ hands. They’d have to tether from your primary phone which isn’t ideal, but workable.

>>cosmic+Rc
I use a Nokia/HMD KaiOS phone as a 4G/Wifi router for the communications part of your idea.

>>rjsw+yh
Did you choose a KaiOS phone specifically because other current non-smart phones lack support for Bluetooth tethering (a.k.a. PAN profile)?

As far as I can tell, all currently available models from all manufacturers are based on some Unisoc platform and offer no indication of support for this feature in their manuals. Did you happen to come across any alternatives?

I'm not very keen on KaiOS given the ubiquitous advertising baked into it (which is apparently their business model).