Do you now NEED a smartphone?

[bort]

Pretty much. For most people, it's no longer good enough to just check email when you're at home in front of a computer. I also find that I'm 100% attached to it for Maps and for quick checks of the news (yeah, and TubeNet). I use the camera a lot, too, but it's nothing compared to a real camera. Again, it's just convenient.

Besides that, I think that "apps" as a whole are completely overrated, and not the point of having a smartphone. Yeah, there are neat things that it can do, but I honestly don't remember the last time I went to an "app store" or if I have ever actually paid money for an app.

Basically, it makes things convenient, but smartphones can make people dumb in a hurry.

[pwhitaker]

Au contraire. As I'm approaching my 75th birthday I find that using my memory for phone numbers, bank accounts etc, and using the computer as I have done for the past 40 odd years keeps me mentally alert, engaged and, I hope, less likely to succumb to Alzheimers.... - Just one geezers opinion.

[bisontuba]

Maybe....
Mark

[Rick F]

Yes! A couple of years ago (when I was 66 y.o.) I would have said no. I got along fine with a flip phone costing only $15 every 90 days. Now with my iPhone5 I have access to emails, all my phone numbers, addresses, etc. Many apps are very useful – tuner app, metronome app, reorder prescriptions or check status of same. I actually use the camera more than I thought I would. When shopping and I see something I want to research before buying, I just snap a photo or two. No need to remember model numbers or write them down. Then there's the maps for navigating and finding addresses. I have Virgin Mobile service (uses Sprint cell towers) with no contract. Unlimited data, unlimited text and 300 minutes talk time for $30 / month. Virgin Mobile has pretty good coverage where I travel in the South East. But if I was in the North East, it probably wouldn't be good enough coverage.

Yep, I guess I need one.

[Chadtuba]

I won't say that I need my smartphone, but it certainly comes in handy. So much of what I do is based off of email so it is a necessary evil. The most convenient item on my phone is my calendar. Between my wife's schedule as a grad student, and my schedule with crazy work hours, and as the band director for a community band this feature is wonderful. I also have access to the calendars of the various activities in the concert hall, conferences being held on campus, and the calendars of my supervisor & co-workers so that we can all see who is supposed to be working which events/shifts.

As others have stated, I don't pay for apps, but I do use a few. The other feature I thoroughly love is the GPS. I'm good with directions, but living in a large metropolitan area that I'm still relatively too this is a great help. Typically after I have been to a place the first time I don't need the directions again, but it's nice to have a back-up.

Do I NEED my smartphone? No, but it is very convenient and useful.

[Donn]

I say "no", by narrow interpretation of the question - "do you now need" is implicitly about some recent change, and while I know others might need a smart phone more than I do, I'm not aware of any recent change that affects that equation.

I have one, mostly rationalized by comparing the cost of a low end smart phone to a simple cellular phone plus electronic tuner. I don't have a "data plan" (or really any plan, I just put a little money in it yearly), so it's no use for navigation; internet works only via wifi. I couldn't figure out how to keep the email application from firing up every time I connected to a wifi network, so I deconfigured it. Effectively no different from a simple cellular phone - which I barely need.

[THE TUBA]

Everything that I use from a smartphone I could access elsewhere, but it is convenient to have it all in one pocket.

Phone, address book, internet, tuner/metronome/audio recorder, .mp3 player, calendar, photo/video camera, weather app, file storage, flashlight, alarm clock, calculator, etc...

[Three Valves]

When my wife bought me one for my birthday I was convinced she was only trying to keep track of me.

I was right.

As usual!!

[bort]

Oh, one thing I forgot. It *was* extremely easy to use an online banking app to deposit checks, and NOT have to go to the bank.

But then my bank discontinued the app for my OS.
And there is exactly 1 ATM (and no brick-and-mortar buildings) for this bank in the entire state of Minnesota.

[The Big Ben]

I like to read my FB and e-mail on the phone and, if not NECESSARY, answer it at home. Gives me some time to avoid making an *** of myself. Maps apps and banking apps are nice.

My iPhone can become a "mobile hotspot"- attach another device (laptop, tablet, whatever) via WiFi and access the net via the cell network. I do "real" writing and a laptop is the only way to go for that sort of thing. I do "real" photography also and a laptop is the next best thing to being at home. I'm not sure if it is possible to get cell network connectivity with a laptop (I'm sure it is with a tablet). If I could get "wifi hotspot" with a simple phone, I might go that way.

Nobody calls me or texts me so, if there was such a thing as a pay phone, I might not even have a cellphone- smart or otherwise.

[The Big Ben]

At age 63 I use mine more than ever. I have also added a couple of tablets.

There are some incredibly cheap but incredibly adequate tablets out there. 8 inchers for $60 +/- USD. Operative word being 'adequate' If you wanna show photos, watch movies or listen to any sort of streaming music, they are very adequate. WiFi or wi-fi hotspot on your smartphone is necessary.

[Tom]

I wish that I didn't need to have a cell phone or a smart phone at all, quite honestly.

I am of the age where even in college it was rare for a student to have a cell phone and it was unheard of to have a "smart phone" (iphone didn't exist at the time, I'm talking Palm devices and Blackberry devices). So, I've lived in the pre-cell phone era as a young adult and through the transition to where we are today. I'm sure many of you are much older than I am and lived decades without ever having a cell phone at all - it seems to me that "those were the days!" We seemed to manage ok without them at all.

About that time (late 1990s) I got my first cell phone and have had one ever since . I always would just get whatever the free phone was (remember when they did that?) and then pay for the service. Eventually I had a series of Motorola Razor phones (remember when those were hot?). In fact, I had a Motorola Razor long after they were considered obsolete.

When texting became mainstream I still had the Razor phone and didn't pay extra on my plan for texting (at the time it was a considerable added cost to be able to text). I did not have internet access on my phone so I did no web browsing or email checking on it. If you needed to reach me, you'd have to call me and either I'd answer it or you'd have to leave a message about whatever you needed.

I ended up working for an employer that, without ever saying anything, expected employees to text and receive/respond to emails on their mobile devices. Eventually that employer realized that every time I was "on location" or away from the office (which was frequently) that I could not be reached unless it was by regular phone call. I got called in to talk to the boss and asked why I was ignoring texts and emails. I told them that I didn't have a phone that could do some of those things and that I didn't pay for texting. I was told I "needed" to in order to be able to continue (yep, really). My response was to say that I would use it if they would pay for it. The employer agreed and paid for me to get "smart" phone and service that would allow for texting, email, web browsing, etc. With how common smart phones are now and how cell phone plans are setup, I don't think that would fly anymore though I'm sure some folks get some sort of cell phone allowance these days (I don't).

Subsequent employers have all just expected me to have a phone, text, email, etc. with no discussion about it or extra compensation for it. So, for my own personal use, no, I don't need a smart phone. For business purposes it has become a defacto requirement. It does make my job easier, so I live with it.

[The Big Ben]

Subsequent employers have all just expected me to have a phone, text, email, etc. with no discussion about it or extra compensation for it. So, for my own personal use, no, I don't need a smart phone. For business purposes it has become a defacto requirement. It does make my job easier, so I live with it.

What is their reaction if you are ever "closed" i.e. the e-mail sends a "vacation" notice or the voice mail says "I will open again at 8 AM tomorrow"? Or, you just turn it off when you go home?

[Tom]

Subsequent employers have all just expected me to have a phone, text, email, etc. with no discussion about it or extra compensation for it. So, for my own personal use, no, I don't need a smart phone. For business purposes it has become a defacto requirement. It does make my job easier, so I live with it.

What is their reaction if you are ever "closed" i.e. the e-mail sends a "vacation" notice or the voice mail says "I will open again at 8 AM tomorrow"? Or, you just turn it off when you go home?

That's the problem with the arrangement...I can't ever be "closed" unless I really am out on vacation (pre-arranged, etc.). If I don't respond to an email sent after hours that apparently needs a quick response, I'll get a text about it. If I ignore that, I'll get a phone call. Ignore that and I'll continue to get calls and texts until I respond. Although I am not in a profession that typically has folks "on call" (such as doctor, police officer, similar) - far from it, and certainly not a life-and-death profession, this kind of arrangement results in me being on call 24-7. Yes, I can turn off email but I can really only ignore things for so long before I just have to deal with it...even if I'm on vacation. To be clear, I do not own my own business or work for myself. I work in a job that expects that of me...I want that job, so I deal with...it goes with the territory. I don't love that it's the way it is, but...well, it's the way it is.

[TubaRay]

But then my bank discontinued the app for my OS.
And there is exactly 1 ATM (and no brick-and-mortar buildings) for this bank in the entire state of Minnesota.

Ever consider changing banks?

[Heavy_Metal]

Au contraire. As I'm approaching my 75th birthday I find that using my memory for phone numbers, bank accounts etc, and using the computer as I have done for the past 40 odd years keeps me mentally alert, engaged and, I hope, less likely to succumb to Alzheimers.... - Just one geezers opinion.

+1. I'm quite a bit younger but recognize the value of maintaining skills. It's comical to watch some people panic when they can't get a 4G connection.

I still use an old-school flip phone. If you want to get my attention, you can call me. On the landline if I'm at the office or home.

[alfredr]

I have a smart phone, but I don't think I need it. Anymore. I got it a few months ago because I did seem to need it to help with dealing with insurance claims and contractors because of a break-in/burglary at a property I own. That is all over with; I could do without it now. I have gotten used to having it, but I could quit any time I want to. It has internet service and I can find ways to waste time there.

I don't do tex-mexages. I am not a Twit. None of that social media stuff. I get text messages and read them, but if a response is required, I make the phone call. Usually I don't have to.

Unlike Tom, the phone is supplied by the company I work for and I expect that they have the capability of tracking my use and my location if they should choose to do so. I don't think they do that though. When they first gave me a beeper (remember those) years ago, I called it a leash. This is the latest version. If I had to pay for it, I would not have anything more than the most basic cell phone/cheapest possible service.

I have no other cell phone or service. This is the number I give to people to contact me if I don't give them my home number (land line.) In the past, when employees have left the company, they usually let them take the phone and the number with them. I guess, compared to Tom, I have a pretty good deal.

"Closed" What's that? I have never heard of anything like that, or how to turn this phone OFF. Like when you are in church or a meeting and don't want the phone to make any noise.

[b.williams]

No. Absolutely not. Don't have one. Don't want one.

[cjk]

How would I ever read tubenet in the bathroom if I didn't have a smartphone?

[boobentuben]

How would I ever read tubenet in the bathroom if I didn't have a smartphone?

do u use tp app 4 your bottom ?