Request for Information

[kaasirpent]

My life has become an After School Special. :) "It's the peer pressure, man!"

Pretty much everyone I know has a Smartphone of some type: iPhone, Blackberry, Android... And most of those people take every opportunity to tell me how crappy and awful my phone is because it can't access the IntarwebZ, take pictures, act as a GPS, make toast, perform 26-dimensional string-theory calculations, and emulate a Kindle.

I have a phone. It's just a phone. It doesn't take pictures. It can, unfortunately, access some castrated version of the Internet, which costs me out the wazoo (I've accidentally connected a time or two while trying to do something else). It has the capability of texting, but I turned that off almost immediately because I started to get spam texts at 15¢/text, and for each one I had to call AT&T and beg them to reimburse me; it just wasn't worth the hassle.

In short, it does what I need: it receives and makes phone calls.

Unfortunately, it doesn't do this very well. Because it's so old (Have you tried to find a phone that doesn't have all the gewgaws like a camera and Internet on it?), the battery has about had it, and it can only hold a charge through about two or three phone calls. And a new battery costs more than a new phone would cost.

I've often said that although I am a phone Luddite, when I do take the plunge, I'm going to go all the way.

One of my friends has an Android phone that she bought at CostCo for almost nothing ($35? A pittance!). I went with her to CostCo the other day and we looked at the kiosk with all the phones, but 1) it was a bit overwhelming and 2) the sales guys were unbelievable. I'm perfectly capable of looking at a stupid phone by myself, but from the moment we walked up until the moment I managed an escape, we were subjected to questions and unrelenting "pitch."

I don't react well to hard sell.

So I grabbed a brochure and we did the rest of our shopping.

Today, I'm looking at the brochure we picked up. It happens to be for Verizon. I've never had Verizon before, so I have nothing negative to say about them. T-Mobile is right out (it's a long story). I currently have AT&T, and I'm not so thrilled with them that I'm gung-ho on keeping them, either.

I used to have AT&T's lowest-cost plan, with 450 minutes per month. It was $55/month (they claimed it was $35, but I never once had a month lower than $53). I then changed my plan to pre-paid. I put $100 on the pre-paid plan approximately every 4-5 months and each call, in or out, is 25¢/minute. Texting is another 15¢/text, but as I said, I turned that off from the get-go. I have not had a single complaint about the go-phone (well, not since I opened the account, anyway) other than the lack of decent battery life, but that's the phone and not the plan.

So, I can either pony up the dough to buy a new battery for an old phone (it'd be like buying a 1T hard drive to go in an IBM AT); give in and get a new phone, but stay with the pre-paid plan; get a new phone and sign up for a new plan that isn't pre-paid; or go all the way and get a smart phone with all the gewgaws, including IntarwebZ and a camera.

What I want to know is: What is so compelling about smart phones? The plan I would most likely go for is 450 minutes/month (which I will never even come close to using) for $40 (no texting—I'm still not sold that there's any reason for texting, ever) + the 3G Smartphone data package at $30/month.

So that puts me at $70/month, which is what I'm currently paying for about 2 – 2.5 months.

This is my question: What compelling reasons can those of you who have Smartphones give me that the $70/month is actually worth it? Especially considering that it'll more likely be closer to $90/month after all the fees and charges and trumped-up extras are tacked on. (Who, me? Cynical? Never.)

I really do want to know. I just...can't see it for myself. But I have to be the odd one out, considering that (almost) everyone I know has a Smartphone.

Comments

[feuervogel]

I just got a smartphone, and I'm in love with the stupid thing. I got an Android phone, and it integrated seamlessly with my google stuff: gmail, gcal, gchat, maps... There's also twitter and facebook apps, and very important things like German soccer news and beer apps. I have wifi in my house, so I cut the data use by a lot. I posted about it right after I got it (August 28); feel free to read it. I might make another post soon, now that I've had it a couple weeks.

On AT&T, the monthly rate is $15 for 200 MB of data or $30 for 2GB, plus your minutes (I have a grandfathered plan, 450 minutes family share for $60/mo plus taxes &c). Texting is separate. (Once Ben gets his smartphone in October, our bill won't change too much, because we'll drop our unlimited texting at $30/mo and pick up 200/$5 each and his $15 data plan. It's about $110 for 2 people right now.) Verizon has a lot higher data rates.

But if you don't want a smartphone, I have a 3G texting phone with qwerty pullout keyboard I'm looking to get rid of (Samsung Propel). I also have a car charger for it. Caveat: AT&T locked.

[craftsman.livejournal.com]

Blaming T-Mobile because someone nicked your CC/Visa Debit number and used it there is not really rational. I pay via CC to T-Mobile each month and they have to have my CC verification number to process it so it couldn't have been an accident on their end.

And T-Mobile does have the coolest Android phones. They don't disable tethering on any phones so you have a portable modem.

Smartphones are cool for quick web lookups, GPS (with real-time traffic), TwitterBooking, and games.

One cool example; you can synch your phone contacts with your Google Contacts (or outlook/Exchange for the Windows-centric). One stop address book management.

I handle multiple email accounts (work, personal, professional) transparently on my phone.

FYI, I run a HTC HD2 from T-Mobile. Wicked fast and one of the best displays ever.

As for texting, my sister and my oldest daughter use that a lot. Texting is a soft interrupt or a service request. Phone calls are a hard interrupt. Texting is easier to manage timewise.

Finally, my company pays for the phone and data plans, so my out of pocket expense is zero. This wasn't always the case but I did pay for the plans myself back then since I really need that level of connectivity.

[kaasirpent]

I blame T-Mobile for it because of this:

1. They told me over the phone that someone had merely "misdialed" their CC# and it was most likely a "one-off" error. This is patently and demonstrably a lie, and if that's the kind of crap they're telling their customer service people to say, then they can't be trusted.

2. I don't buy that someone stole my CC# and then never used it for anything else other than their $200 T-Mobile bill. I'm not convinced they required the verification number in 2008 when I had the problem I had. Seems like I asked around at the time, and they did not.

3. T-Mobile consistently delayed delivering my voice mails to me, sometimes by as much as three weeks. Each time I called them to complain, they'd lie to me and say, "Oh, yeah, we JUST fixed that last week. You won't have that problem again." The first time I believed them. The second time I thought maybe it was a residual. The third and fourth times? Lies. They cannot be trusted.

4. EVERY attempt my bank or I made to get the $200 back from them was met by derision and downright rudeness. They made us wait 91 days and refused to turn over the name of the person whose bill was paid by the illegal $200. That, to me, smacks of collusion. They had ample proof that the card was used illegally, and yet they refused to provide information that might have led to an arrest. I will not do business with someone who has proven to me that they can't be trusted.

[siercia]

So, I just got an iPhone. For free, since Pru was upgrading and offered me her old one. And it's only $15/month more than I was paying for my non-smart phone. For that, it was worth it. I'd not gotten one for a long time before that because I just could not see it being worth it for the extra $50/month it was going to cost.

I spend all day at a computer, and a good chunk of my evenings. I don't need more access than that. It's come in vaguely handy a few times when I've been out and needed to look up an address or whatnot, but it hasn't been life changing. It's a fun diversion when I'm bored to be able to play games or peek at facebook, but nothing I'd die without if you told me tomorrow that I had to give it back.

[wordsmith101.livejournal.com]

Well, my phone just makes calls, too, I don't use it for texting or internet (although it does have a camera which comes in handy from time to time). However, my husband (also a non-texter) has an iPhone. One of the deciding factors for him in making that purchase was that it supports a software program he uses for work. In addition, though, he also consistently reads ebooks on it and uses it as a reminder to pick up items or make calls, take notes, etc. It has a camera that actually takes decent pictures, nice for us because we are horrible when it comes to remembering to take our camera along with us. A few other things I've found really handy: being able to access the internet when on the road for maps, addresses, movie start times and the like. Apps that make it easy to find specific gas stations, coffee shops, etc. Some (admittedly limited) GPS functionality that has come in handy. The diversity of available apps (which are generally pretty cheap) is mind-boggling--but that is something you should look into yourself to see what there is that you might actually use. Some he's found handy: using the iPhone as a level; identifying music; tracking bike runs; getting guitar tabs; and of course games and fun things as well. There are lots of gee-whiz apps out there that are cool but not useful, but the number of useful ones is probably something to consider.

[etherial.livejournal.com]

I first got a smartphone before cell phones became ubiquitous, so for me, the added functionality of a smartphone is what pushed cell phone from "expensive toy that takes up too much space in my pocket" to "useful gadget that's worth the cost" (it turns out it's even more worth the cost when you're on a family plan).

Until I went for a month without a cell phone (and therefore no phone at all) this August, I had assumed that was still the case. Really, not having a cell phone at all is no longer an option for me. So I'm no longer going to look down on people who have dumbphones. But I still want the functionality/keyboard/fun factor of a smartphone, so I got a Droid.

Here's why it's awesome: Last night, I typed "bertucci's" into the maps app and it showed me the location, address, distance, hours, ratings, reviews, styles, and prices of any Bertucci's I wanted to click on. It could then automagically dial or direct me to them.

Also, it fucking prints money (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg).

[cfred.livejournal.com]

To me, a smartphone is a phone with a subset of a computer's features spliced onto it. In addition to voice and text abilities, my phone does a couple of other things for me:

* Calendar: I can see my schedule anywhere I am, and if I add/change an event, it syncs with my calendar on my computer.

* Contact book: Not just phone numbers for calling, but I can keep up with birthdates, addresses, notes, and even attach pictures.

* Social media: By text message or through a dedicated app, I can updated my Facebook or Twitter status. I can also post to LJ through an app or via email.

* Camera: I always have a camera with me, so I can take pictures of receipts (instant tax documentation onto the computer), price tags, boxes, billboards with URLs to look up later...or random funny stuff that winds up getting posted to Facebook, Twitter, or LJ. :)

* Email: Some of my email accounts are pushed directly to my phone: I know when a new message comes in immediately. I choose to access Gmail through a mobile web interface instead of the email client.

* Web: Yes, Flash sites aren't usable on my phone (and now you know which one I have :) ), and some sites require scrolling/zooming to be usable. However, many sites (Google, Wikipedia, newspapers) have mobile versions tweaked for smartphones. Speaking of mobile web, you can send text messages from Google Voice via its mobile web interface, and I believe it will give notification of new messages via email, so you can text for free (cost of your data plan only).

* Music: Yes, I have an iPhone, so music and podcasts are a core competency :) , but most smartphones have the ability to store and play music, and I suspect most will handle podcasts as well.

* Apps: Leaving out games, I have apps on my phone for health and fitness, to-do lists, instant messaging, document and spreadsheet editing (Quickoffice), streaming audio, weather, and eBooks.

* Games: Scrabble knock-offs, card games, board games, etc. Plus, if I wanted, I could get an SSH app, SSH in to my home computer, and then connect any MUSH whose server is up.

Put another way, if I didn't have a smartphone, I'd have to carry an address book, calendar, notepad, MP3 player, and probably a deck of cards. Instead, I get it all in one package.

Yep

[awl.livejournal.com]

Yes, this pretty much sums up what I think as well.

Plus having navigation. That was very handy on our vacation.

Re: Yep

[cfred.livejournal.com]

And along with navigation, traffic updates. It's nice to be able to see what condition the parking lots freeways are in while attempting to drive somewhere.

I have a TomTom, but it doesn't have a traffic package. Also, half the time I'm looking for a point of interest, it's easier to do the search on my phone and then just key in the street address to the TomTom, rather than find the store/restaurant/school on the TomTom.

[dorsai.livejournal.com]

Disclaimer: I am an AT&T employee. I have a financial interest in what I am writing here, and if I talk you into buying something from us, I may be compensated.

That said...I was like you in that I had an old phone that was only good for making and receiving phone calls. Last month I upgraded to an iPhone 4, partly because my old phone wasn't cutting it any more, and partly to move my personal non-phone phone usage away from my company-provided Blackberry. I never really thought I needed a smartphone either, but I found myself using the Blackberry more and more for my own ends, so I decided to take the plunge.

And really, I'm glad I did. I don't know that there's any one thing that is truly compelling about it, it's the sum of dozens of functions that aren't compelling individually, but together make the whole thing worthwhile. There are a gazillion apps out there for every possible need. Want to be an atheist? Download the 'How to be a good atheist' app (no, I'm not kidding). Want to know where the space station is? There's an app for that, too. Want to know where all the restaurants Guy Fieri visits on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives are? There's an app for that, too (I downloaded it for our aborted trip to Arizona this month). Getting ready for the revolution? You can download a rifle ballistics calculator (no, I *haven't* downloaded that one). And so on.

I like having easy access to Facebook, LJ, and Twitter - even though I don't twit, there are a handful of people worth following. Plus I've got my email at all times, a surprisingly good camera and HD videocam, and all my friends names, addresses, and phone numbers. It's a thousand and one useful things, in one tiny package.

I looked at a friend's Droid phone of some flavor before buying. It was nice, but it wasn't as refined (in my opinion) as the iPhone. This thing is *smooth* - Apple's reputation for design is well-deserved. You've probably heard about the 'retina display'...well, it really is impressive. The pixels just aren't there anymore, and everything looks like it's been printed on glass. I looked at a friend's iPhone 3GS after getting this one, and I was surprised at how obvious the difference in displays was.

As far as the well-publicized antenna issue goes...I was able to reproduce the effect, yes. But I was never able to force it to drop a call or data connection, and with the 'bumper' installed it's not an issue at all. I would guess (but understand, I have *no* inside information) that there will be a new iPhone 4 release soon to deal with the issue, but there's no telling. I wouldn't let this stop you from getting one, if that's what you end up wanting.

To summarize the above rambling: go buy one, you won't regret it.

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

I have a dumphone. It makes phone calls. It receives phone calls. I think it might have a camera in it, but I have no idea how to use it and don't care to. I will say that the very first time my car declined to proceed and I could just call AAA from the front seat, it paid for itself, but I can't see any reason to get anything more. I don't twert, I don't farcebook, I don't gargle, and if I want to look something up on the 'net, I can happily wait until the next time I'm home. *I*, at least, have no intention of getting anything smarter.

(There is, in fact, a phone meant for old people. I think it's called the Jitterbug. The *ad* reads "It doesn't play music, it doesn't take pictures". We tried to get a couple, but they won't sell them to us -- we're not old enough!)

Same here!

[ddreslough.livejournal.com]

I got a reconditioned trac phone (Net10 Wireless) for $10, and I pay $15 a month for it (when the 660 minute/3 month freebie card that came with it runs out.) If I lose it, I don't care. If I sit on it, I don't care. If I crush it...I don't care. Such joy! And, it's tiny. And no contract. I get sick of the thing - voila! No more phone. :)

My husband loses his phone constantly...and then he borrows mine..and loses it. So, that was my initial reason, but the benefits have been fantastic.

Re: Same here!

[fauxklore]

I'm in this school, too. I have a Virgin mobil pay as you go cheapie (Kyocera oyster, I think it is). My number stays active as long as I put $20 on every 3 months. It's convenient when I travel in the U.S. and when I have to call Verizon because my land line isn't working.

[rtropeano.livejournal.com]

I love my android as a multi media device. It is great for all the things people have said above.I love that it will read me books, I can read books on it and all.
What it does not do well, is to be a phone. I spend a lot of time in the car. I can not voice dial anymore. It is hard to answer a touch screen by feel. The bluetooth intergration leaves a lot to be desired.

[kiteflier98.livejournal.com]

I have an old cell phone... and an old pda (a Palm LifeDrive, to be exact). I don't like being on any phone much (which I'm sure would surprise anyone who knew me ten years ago), and my cell phone has a battery that barely makes it through one or two calls before needing another charge. I have 20 minutes a month; I use it for quick calls and emergencies. I've been thinking about a Droid the day I get a different phone. However, if someone were offering me a newer phone, I'd certainly look into it. Best of luck, and I'll be looking to see how this turns out.

and I should mention...

[ddreslough.livejournal.com]

If I were to get a smartyphone, it would be the Android and I would have to get Verizon because they're the only network that reaches deep into the bowels of my valley-town.

iphone

[sandyparsons.livejournal.com]

You asked:

This is my question: What compelling reasons can those of you who have Smartphones give me that the $70/month is actually worth it?

answer:
Convenience.

You do know people who don't have smartphones

[hoo.livejournal.com]

I've never had much interest in cell phones with computer-lite functions on them, and I view their lack of improvement over older phones in the areas of making and receiving phone calls as proof that consumers have lost any control over this market.

Being able to make a phone call on a computer is getting close to having an automatic transmission in a vehicle : if it can do that, I won't like the device.