What % of Readers here have a Smartphone?

[Flysofree]

I don't have have one, but am probably in the minority.
Do you have one and what do you pay per month, if so?

Just trying to get an idea. If your 30 or under don't answer. I know you have one.

[xtb]

I have a dumbphone but my wife has an iphone with service from Virgin Mobile, $30/month no contract. Downside is you have to purchase your own unlocked phone. There are a lot of used ones around however.

[raybo]

I bought a 5" Android a couple of years ago, and paid $45 per month, unlimited everything. But, I hardly ever used it so I downgraded to a plain cell phone ($9.95 at Walmart, Samsung TracPhone) and spend $19.95 every 3 months (double minutes for life, and I hardly ever call or receive calls on it). I still have my smartphone and it works very well for internet stuff off any WIFI signal, for free! I recently bought a 15" Win 8.1 laptop for racing usage (gotta have Excel, with macro ability, for racing) when I'm away from home, perfect!

[thaskalos]

I have a smartphone...and I have two additional smartphones on my account. The price that I agreed on with AT&T was $149 a month...but I end up paying about $270 a month. They tell me that the additional charges are for taxes and fees of different types. I briefly contemplated cancelling my account...but my son threatened to go live with an aunt of his if I really followed through with it.

[_______]

Have an old Galaxy but will trade it in for an IPhone 6s on 10/5. Cost with discount at Virgin is $449. Will pay $35/mo for unlimited calls/text and 1GB data. Data over 1GB is throttled to 2G network.

You can pay another $5 for 2GB data but I don't ever get close to 1. They also have a plan that gives you 8GB plus unlimited call/text for $50/mo if you need that much.

[LottaKash]

I have a storied succession in phone upgrades...

I never really wanted or needed a phone to do anything other than making a live connection with someone...until nowadays

Now, I have a Samsung Galaxy-S3, and it is really more phone than I need, but with one exception.... I have learned to embrace the "text" feature on this phone....I got if for free with my last AT&T re-contract...When my wife and I are apart, it makes it so ez and fun for us to stay in touch and send photos so that neither of us gets to completely miss out on anything of significance.... As well as other significant persons...

But as far as physical ergonomics are concerned, I always liked my Motorola "Razor", the best, of all my old phones...It was compact, tough and reliable..and ez to tote....And, it was so shiny... :)...It just ain't smart enough today...

My wife now has the S6, and she is mad with love about it....I swear her blood runs thru it now....Fantastic camera with that one too...

[Flysofree]

I simply don't get texting someone... I do some emailing on computer, but the keys are large and typing is flat and easy..But texting, would seem like I was trying to preform some real complicated feat.... Guess I'm just too old to learn to new tricks.
Oh yes, I have a cell phone.

[_______]

I simply don't get texting someone... I do some emailing on computer, but the keys are large and typing is flat and easy..But texting, would seem like I was trying to preform some real complicated feat.... Guess I'm just too old to learn to new tricks.
Oh yes, I have a cell phone.

Most phones these days allow you to just speak into the microphone to compose a text.

It's easy as long as you aren't standing in a crowd or don't mind stares.

[Flysofree]

Most phones these days allow you to just speak into the microphone to compose a text.

It's easy as long as you aren't standing in a crowd or don't mind stares.

I had absolutely no idea of this.... What model or brands should I look for?
Thanks.

[Ocala Mike]

I'm running an old desktop with an obsolete OS, and get by with a cellphone and a land line phone only. Caveat - I am a 73-yo dinosaur.

[Flysofree]

I'm running an old desktop with an obsolete OS, and get by with a cellphone and a land line phone only. Caveat - I am a 73-yo dinosaur.

I'm in similiar "boat".. The thing about smartphones that worries me is that; almost every aspect of life is starting to be impacted by a smartphone. From eating at a few restaurants to banking ....and just about everything in between.
They are quickly pushing it down our throats.... I think we're good for a few more years, but I see "needing" a smartphone within 5 years to do simple things. The phone companies seem to run the world next to the computer people. As a matter of fact they are already one and the same for the youth.
I'm in my 60's.

[_______]

I had absolutely no idea of this.... What model or brands should I look for?
Thanks.

My Galaxy S2 does this. I know the iPhone 4s my girlfriend uses does it. Those are both phones that are multiple generations old. I assume that any current smartphone has this functionality but haven't done a survey.

[forced89]

No smart phone here. No land line either. Just an old Samsung clam shell. I had ATT shut it down so it won't receive text messages or voice mail. I pay$37.29 per month for the privilege of making and receiving phone calls.

[Flysofree]

No smart phone here. No land line either. Just an old Samsung clam shell. I had ATT shut it down so it won't receive text messages or voice mail. I pay$37.29 per month for the privilege of making and receiving phone calls.

That figure does not include long distance calls or what?

[NorCalGreg]

Funny story about how different today's young people are---you ever run off in the morning and forget your wristwatch? So I'm walking around wondering what time it is, and ask some young guy if he has the time. He reaches into his pocket--pulls out his cellphone--looks at it quickly and gives me the time.
I suddenly realize....all this time I HAD MY OWN CELLPHONE in my pocket.
Funny how technology has changed everything.

[no breathalyzer]

33 no smart phone here

[magwell]

I have a 5s and it's great it does everything, I never leave the house without it .......:cool:

[plainolebill]

I'll be 73 next month, Last year I bought my wife and I each an unlocked Motorola Moto G, T-Mobile costs me about $110 for both phones. Dumped my landline and went with Basic Talk and I'm actually saving money over what I was paying for a couple of dumb phones and a Verizon landline.

I even learned how to text - a real chore on a dumb phone.

Amazing, I used to have to write checks and lick stamps to pay my bills.

[Flysofree]

I'll be 73 next month, Last year I bought my wife and I each an unlocked Motorola Moto G, T-Mobile costs me about $110 for both phones. Dumped my landline and went with Basic Talk and I'm actually saving money over what I was paying for a couple of dumb phones and a Verizon landline.

I even learned how to text - a real chore on a dumb phone.

Amazing, I used to have to write checks and lick stamps to pay my bills.

I haven't written a check in at least 7 years...I use online Bill Pay for all my bills. But that's accompolished without a smartphone just using my desktop computer.

[Flysofree]

33 no smart phone here

You still have time to learn, if you want one. I was wondering if Verizon or AT-T, Sprint etc. offer any type of class for learning how to use one. Most regular users have no idea, how hard it would be for someone like me to learn.

[Canarsie]

I have a smartphone...and I have two additional smartphones on my account. The price that I agreed on with AT&T was $149 a month...but I end up paying about $270 a month. They tell me that the additional charges are for taxes and fees of different types. I briefly contemplated cancelling my account...but my son threatened to go live with an aunt of his if I really followed through with it.

All you have to do is write down a prepared speech and just read it. They will transfer you to someone higher up and the odds area t least $25 is taken off the month bill.

I just did it with my cable company a month ago. They took $25 off and gave me a free upgrade to the next internet level they sell. It's only for a year but the second time I have received money off. Then I have to do it all over again trying to be honest.

If the facts you presented are accurate tell them "I know you record every phone call go back and listen for yourself".

[Robert Goren]

You still have time to learn, if you want one. I was wondering if Verizon or AT-T, Sprint etc. offer any type of class for learning how to use one. Most regular users have no idea, how hard it would be for someone like me to learn. It ain't rocket science. You learned how to use a computer, didn't you? The smart phone learning curve is a lot easier. You will be functional within 10 minutes and be an expert within a day or two.

[forced89]

That figure does not include long distance calls or what?

It includes 500 Night and Weekend minutes; all calls to and from other ATT phones; and 300 minutes a month. All calls within the US are included in the foregoing. Actually the 300 minutes a month is a little misleading. It is actually way higher because of "Rollover" minutes of which I have over 1,000.

[Flysofree]

It ain't rocket science. You learned how to use a computer, didn't you? The smart phone learning curve is a lot easier. You will be functional within 10 minutes and be an expert within a day or two.

For some reason you are negative to everything I say. When I first learned to use a computer, I was at work and taught by someone else... That was long ago and I was much younger. But you sir always know all the facts of course.

[plainolebill]

I haven't written a check in at least 7 years...I use online Bill Pay for all my bills. But that's accompolished without a smartphone just using my desktop computer.

I haven't tried paying my bills via my phone - I do it the old fashioned way - with my computer. :)

[Tom]

I have a Samsung Tracfone and nothing works worth a crap on it.
Can't email photos anymore, internet access next to worthless and the erst is a waste of time.

Next phone will makes calls only.
I can't think of a single thing I would want a phone to do other that, other then take photos, but when you can[t get them off the stupid phone, why bother?

[Robert Goren]

For some reason you are negative to everything I say. When I first learned to use a computer, I was at work and taught by someone else... That was long ago and I was much younger. But you sir always know all the facts of course.
All I can say is that I had no problem learning to use one. You seem like a guy who is bright enough to learn use it with no problem. Even my brother caught on pretty quickly and he's dumber than a post.

[whodoyoulike]

I have a Samsung Tracfone and nothing works worth a crap on it.
Can't email photos anymore, internet access next to worthless and the erst is a waste of time.

Next phone will makes calls only.
I can't think of a single thing I would want a phone to do other that, other then take photos, but when you can[t get them off the stupid phone, why bother?

The smartphones I'm familiar with have a USB connection with the charger. You just connect the phone to the USB plug and download photos to your computer then you have the option of burning the photos to a CD or just view on the computer. Works just great.

[ManU918]

I honestly don't think I could live without my iPhone. It has everything I need in life on it... I can talk/skype with people, bet horses & sports from it, watch tv & netflix on it, do my banking, count my calories, take quality images, listen to music, read emails, track stocks, etc. Why anyone in this day and age wouldn't have a smartphone is beyond me. If you're truly someone who only uses your phone to text and talk then it would make sense but for someone like myself its like having three devices in one. I used to have to carry an iPad, iPod and older smart phone around if I was going to play poker. Now its iPhone 6 and off I go.

[Flysofree]

I honestly don't think I could live without my iPhone. It has everything I need in life on it... I can talk/skype with people, bet horses & sports from it, watch tv & netflix on it, do my banking, count my calories, take quality images, listen to music, read emails, track stocks, etc. Why anyone in this day and age wouldn't have a smartphone is beyond me. If you're truly someone who only uses your phone to text and talk then it would make sense but for someone like myself its like having three devices in one. I used to have to carry an iPad, iPod and older smart phone around if I was going to play poker. Now its iPhone 6 and off I go.

What does this cost you per month for full usage?

[ManU918]

What does this cost you per month for full usage?

About $120. The thing I like most is when I'm home my phone is running on my wifi or when I'm at a casino, family members house, Starbucks, etc it always remembers the wifi passwords. So you don't need a big "data" plan if you have wifi in your house or at the locations you spend the most time in.

[Flysofree]

About $120. The thing I like most is when I'm home my phone is running on my wifi or when I'm at a casino, family members house, Starbucks, etc it always remembers the wifi passwords. So you don't need a big "data" plan if you have wifi in your house or at the locations you spend the most time in.


I am surprised to find out that you can use it on the home wifi system .. I always thought that's why they said how much various "data plans "cost.
Learning a lot.Thanks. But still may hold off awhile.

[ManU918]

I am surprised to find out that you can use it on the home wifi system .. I always thought that's why they said how much various "data plans "cost.
Learning a lot.Thanks. But still may hold off awhile.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/Oxbow13/iPhone_zpsgq2nnxu4.png (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/Oxbow13/media/iPhone_zpsgq2nnxu4.png.html)

As you can see in this picture on the upper left hand corner next to where it says Verizon it has 3 bars. That's because I'm sitting in my living room and my phone is working off of the wifi. If I turned the wifi off it would say Verizon LTE.

Also this is just one page of my apps. I have three full pages but just from the screenshot of the above I can pretty much run my life from that one page.

Instagram - Social Media platform where users post images

Snapchat - Social Media platform where users send short images/videos to one another

Messenger - Facebook Messenger (I can talk to any of my Facebook Friends)

Equibase - Entries, Results, Carryovers, etc

USAA - Bank, insurance, etc

Twitter - I think we all know what that is

Capital One - Credit Card

IMDB - Movie app that allows you to rate and keep track of all movies you watch and suggests movies to you based on what you like (I love movies so the app is great for me)

Shazam - If you're ever out and hear a song that you like and what to know who sings it and the name of the song... You open the app and it tells you.

Starbucks - I pay using my app so I gain "Stars" and in return I get free drinks

Bravo Poker - Lists every card room around you telling you how many tables of each game are currently spread along with upcoming tournaments, etc

Youtube - We all know what that is

Weather Channel - Weather

Flash Score - Is a great app that lists every score of every sport in the world. I degen on a lot of Asian soccer games late at night when I'm playing poker and this app keeps me updated.

Sportsinsights -An app for you to track your sports betting (Charts, etc)

WAWA - Similar to Starbucks I use my app to purchase everything I do at the WA and in return I get discounts, free shit, etc

Draftkings - Fantasy Sports...

PayPal - Money laundering... I mean Paying for stuff

Apple Watch - Connects to the iWatch

Ebay - Track things I'm bidding on, alerts you when you've been outbid or have won.

Then the apps down the bottom are the same at every screen...
Mail - All of my email accounts are linked

Phone - Calls, Texting, Contacts, etc

Safari - Internet Browser

Music - I currently have about 500 songs on my phone.

[Flysofree]

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a532/Oxbow13/iPhone_zpsgq2nnxu4.png (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/Oxbow13/media/iPhone_zpsgq2nnxu4.png.html)

As you can see in this picture on the upper left hand corner next to where it says Verizon it has 3 bars. That's because I'm sitting in my living room and my phone is working off of the wifi. If I turned the wifi off it would say Verizon LTE.

Also this is just one page of my apps. I have three full pages but just from the screenshot of the above I can pretty much run my life from that one page.

Instagram - Social Media platform where users post images

Snapchat - Social Media platform where users send short images/videos to one another

Messenger - Facebook Messenger (I can talk to any of my Facebook Friends)

Equibase - Entries, Results, Carryovers, etc

USAA - Bank, insurance, etc

Twitter - I think we all know what that is

Capital One - Credit Card

IMDB - Movie app that allows you to rate and keep track of all movies you watch and suggests movies to you based on what you like (I love movies so the app is great for me)

Shazam - If you're ever out and hear a song that you like and what to know who sings it and the name of the song... You open the app and it tells you.

Starbucks - I pay using my app so I gain "Stars" and in return I get free drinks

Bravo Poker - Lists every card room around you telling you how many tables of each game are currently spread along with upcoming tournaments, etc

Youtube - We all know what that is

Weather Channel - Weather

Flash Score - Is a great app that lists every score of every sport in the world. I degen on a lot of Asian soccer games late at night when I'm playing poker and this app keeps me updated.

Sportsinsights -An app for you to track your sports betting (Charts, etc)

WAWA - Similar to Starbucks I use my app to purchase everything I do at the WA and in return I get discounts, free shit, etc

Draftkings - Fantasy Sports...

PayPal - Money laundering... I mean Paying for stuff

Apple Watch - Connects to the iWatch

Ebay - Track things I'm bidding on, alerts you when you've been outbid or have won.

Then the apps down the bottom are the same at every screen...
Mail - All of my email accounts are linked

Phone - Calls, Texting, Contacts, etc

Safari - Internet Browser

Music - I currently have about 500 songs on my phone.

Wow!! How often does it need a charge when you aren't able to use it at home, where I guess you keep it plugged in?

[ManU918]

Wow!! How often does it need a charge when you aren't able to use it at home, where I guess you keep it plugged in?

I have a 6+ which has a new battery compared to the previous iPhones and it holds a charge pretty good. I honestly never keep my phone plugged in until I'm about to crash at night. The key is when you're not using an app to close it. Some people don't know that about iPhones... The apps stay open once you open them unless you double click the main button and they all pop up and you can close them one by one. If you leave them all open when they are not being used your battery will burn.

If you're going to get an iPhone my recommendation to you would be to get a car charger and a portable charger and you'll be fine. Since I play poker a lot the portable charger comes in handy.

[Tom]

$120 a month for a telephone???
I can honestly say I can't think of anyone I would want to talk to that badly. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I don't even turn mine on half the time.

[ManU918]

$120 a month for a telephone???
I can honestly say I can't think of anyone I would want to talk to that badly. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I don't even turn mine on half the time.

To each their own. I personally think $120 is a steal when considering all of the things I use my phone for.

[ubercapper]

Late to the party but AT&T has a family share plan that is very good particularly if you have a lot of phones and tablets. This plan came in about the beginning of last year.

I was actually amazed when AT&T texted me and said they had automatically switched us to this plan, which saved about $100 per month over what we had been paying.

We have four iphones and three ipads sharing 10 gb/month data, with unlimited calling (it might be 1000 or 1200 minutes but since that only applies to calls to non AT&T phones we're never close) and unlimited text. All our phones are either out of contract or we paid cash so we get $25 per line discount from the $40 charge. We pay $10 per tablet to share on the plan instead of the $15 to $25. We never pay overages for data since we're on our wifi network at home most of the time so we usually use 6 - 8 gb/month of data when not at home.

The total cost, again for four smartphones and three tablets, is $224 with taxes and fees.

For a family or someone with just 1 or 2 phones, the basic plan is $100 for the data and calling then $40 per phone and $10 per tablet, less the discount if the phone is out of contract.

We also have OOMA for VOIP at home in case the AT&T network goes down and so we can get and receive faxes, and call internationally very cheaply. We paid for the Ooma system (maybe $120) over five years ago and have not paid a penny for home phone service since although I think that legacy plan is no longer available. However even if we had the monthly charge (I think it's under $5) it still beats vonage or magic jack by a mile because of the quality of the line and the features. I highly recommend OOMA for anyone that wants the equivalent of a landline.

[mikesal57]

late here too...

cant believe most of you guys here a so behind the times...
I'm 58 and could say I'm on top of the times with technology
having a family with in-laws and kids my cell bill is $275/month
i root my phones and build computers as hobbies...

and I also out-do my 22 year old daughter in text messages on occasion..

:D


mike

[Marshall Bennett]

Where do people find all the time? :confused:

[mikesal57]

Where do people find all the time? :confused:

I also have a 40 hour job :rolleyes:

[whodoyoulike]

You still have time to learn, if you want one. I was wondering if Verizon or AT-T, Sprint etc. offer any type of class for learning how to use one. Most regular users have no idea, how hard it would be for someone like me to learn.

You need to read the manual which comes with the specific phone and my service provider has a customer service line which I've used several times. They were very helpful. I made sure the provider had a walk-in store where you can bring it in and ask questions. Make sure you check around. When I started the coverage in my service area wasn't that great for a lot of the providers. You really want to compare unlimited plans and cost with restricted or limited plans. I vote for unlimited and my plan doesn't cost anywhere near those mentioned. But, I don't have the max GB because I don't need it. You start to feel anxious when you don't have the phone readily available (probably a psychological hook which the providers are aware??).

[judd]

Just got the LG 4--- great phone
Wife got the I-6

[_______]

You still have time to learn, if you want one. I was wondering if Verizon or AT-T, Sprint etc. offer any type of class for learning how to use one. Most regular users have no idea, how hard it would be for someone like me to learn.

I don't know if you've ever used any of the "Idiot" guides but they exist for both the IPad and IPhone. In addition, there are books designed specifically for seniors on various technologies.

I started working on my VW back in the 70's using the original idiot guide. I have on occasion used the newer versions to learn a new subject. just google "idiots guide to (whatever subject you want)" to see if someone has written on it.