JavaScript is required to use Bungie.net

OffTopic

Surf a Flood of random discussion.
5/3/2013 3:32:24 PM
19

Smartphones... what's the point?

I remember being filled with so much excitement back in 2007 when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone. Since then, a lot of companies have hopped on the smartphone bandwagon and now these things are even [url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/smartphones-out-ship-feature-phones-worldwide-first-time-6C9635107]starting to outsell feature phones[/url]. But I still don't own one. Since late 2010, I've walked around with the same iPod Touch (4th gen.) in one pocket and a flip-phone in the other. I have no data plan. I purchase pay-as-you-go minutes in $100 increments and the effective cost of my phone service is roughly $15 per month. I have no contract, and I can change my carrier whenever I want to. Yet I've come to understand that a significant number of people these days are walking around with only one device that they pay closer to $35-50 per month to use, and are locked in to two-year contracts with carriers that place caps on their internet usage. To me, this system feels like a scam. I'm fully aware of the utility of having a GPS I could put in my pocket and being able to access the internet anywhere I could get a phone signal, but I still don't see myself investing in these devices any time in the near future. [b]TL;DR:[/b] does anybody [i]not[/i] own a smartphone, or not think smartphones are worth their cost? Does anybody find smartphones and/or their services indispensable?

Posting in language:

 

Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

View Entire Topic
  • Phone retailers have pushed traditional phones out of the market because of data plans that are relatively cheap for them to provide. To use a smartphone with a major provider, you must buy a data plan. I currently get unlimited data for $30/month, and I don't consider that expensive ($360/year isn't a huge deal) when I use it daily and get a ton of entertainment and utility out of it. But for someone like yourself that does not need to be able to access email or documents anywhere you are, and doesn't need an hour or so of calls per day, then a simple wifi device and flip phone is a good combination. Everyone's needs are different.

    Posting in language:

     

    Play nice. Take a minute to review our Code of Conduct before submitting your post. Cancel Edit Create Fireteam Post

You are not allowed to view this content.
;
preload icon
preload icon
preload icon