Will there ever come the day when we can't operate without Smart Phones?

If the OP doesn’t want to get into the 21st century she is perfectly entitled to do so, but don’t moan about missing out on certain things which are only available via apps. I love my iphone - so user friendly, music, games, whatsapp, great camera, plant identifying apps, maps, train times, bus tracker, toilet finder, shopping lists, reminders, could go on...... Got a lovely video of GD blowing out birthday candles today when I was out ( waiting at the dentist, who also has an app).

Spidergran3

No, I’m not in the same position. I love my iPhone and would hate not to have one, my life is on it! I decided very early on that having paid so much for one it was jolly well going to work for me, and it does. If there’s an app for anything I’ll have it. Going supermarket shopping I just take my car keys, bags and the phone. I pay for everything with the phone. I have maps for the whole of the UK, bird identification apps, all my music, all my photos, emails, my Kindle library... If, as it looks likely, the government decide we shall have some kind of vaccination passport it will be on a smart phone app. Smart phones may not be necessary but they are certainly very, very convenient. Why in particular do you not ever want to get one and why do you worry that you might have to?

I agree, I upgraded to an IPhone about four years ago and have never regretted it. I changed it again last October as I bought an almost new one from my 18 year old niece as I fancied having a larger screen and keyboard.

I use the calendar function instead of carrying a paper diary with me and it synchronises with my iPad so I can check each night what my plans are for the next day. I have quite a few apps, games and social media but don’t do banking on my phone, just at home on my iPad. Not sure why other than I feel a bit more secure. Everything is backed up to the cloud in case I lose my phone.

For me it was a case of slow to get started but now I would not be without it.

Dragonella that’s frustrating for you. Don’t give up. I was like you a few years ago and hadn’t a clue how to work the phone. A few lessons from my son and I got the hang of it with practice. Is it possible you have a lot of messages or photos stored that you could delete to free up space? I deleted 3GB of messages from mine today. It’s surprising how quickly they mount up.

If you can find your way onto YouTube there are tutorials on just about everything there eg how to connect your phone to home WiFi.

I'm a total Luddite when it comes to mobile phones. I have a flip phone which cost £12, and I put £10 credit on it every few months. I rarely phone anyone because I never go out! I now have a secondhand smart phone, but I soon found out it was not that smart - it doesn't have enough memory to use the Facebook app, for a start. I now use it as a Kindle and nothing else. I'm not that smart either - I can't figure out how to switch to the right minutes or use the home internet when I'm at home. I can't even take photos with it because I need two hands to hold it still and a third to press the camera button. It's all just too much hard work. I feel sad that I can't get the hang of it, when everyone else seems to love them. I'm not even 60 yet!

I stuck with 3. I have unlimited UK calls and texts and 12gb for £8. Great for streaming films and I use it as a hotspot so I can access the iPad whilst I’m on journeys.
I’m not sure about international calls. I always do them on WhatsApp, FaceTime or FB Messenger.

Esspee I’ve got the same package as you but I’ve stuck with O2 in recent years as I’ve found it the best signal in my area.

I think I previously checked Lebara and found they use Vodafone network? My son and dil are on Vodafone and their signal disappears when they visit me. Likewise my daughter’s EE. I worked my way around and came back to O2. That’s a great deal you have with yours.

Grannynannywanny. What on earth do you pay £9 a month for with your phone?
I get unlimited U.K. calls, unlimited U.K. texts, 100 mins on international calls plus 3 gigabytes of data per month for £5.
You need to change provider. I’m with Lebara.

I wouldn't be without mine but I am sad to think we are moving towards a society in which communications are more by internet than by human being - a bit like that TV ad where the young couple fall in love 'virtually'. I won't be around to see this happen but my grandchildren will and I am sorry for them.

I think all service providers should provide their service in whatever way is comfortable for their customers.

I wouldn't be without mine either, and don't think that society should be 'held back' by people refusing to have them. I often hear people say that councils, companies shops and all sorts of people have an obligation to find a way to make their services accessible to those who don't want to go online, and I don't agree. It saves a lot of time and money if bills and things like council tax are paid online, so IMO it should be those who won't do it who pay the extra.

Exceptions should somehow be made for those who are genuinely unable to do it, such as the disabled or financially disadvantaged, but I do think it should be the default, rather than an opt-in.

I am waiting for smart phones with screens that can be unfolded to tablet size. There are a few on the market, but they cost over £1,000, so it will be some time before I get one.

Another big plus for the smartphone is the ability to make free calls to the other side of the world if the person you are calling has the same app. I use WhatsApp but I’m sure there are many others.

I remember when I was young international phone calls to relatives were only made on very special occasions and were kept as brief as possible. They had to be prebooked via the operator and were charged at a huge cost. Now we can call anytime for free to almost anywhere in the world, both audio and video calls. I think it’s wonderful.

i don't have one.
i have an old mobile phone, nearly 20 years old.
it is pay as you go, and i haven't put any money on it for many months, i hardly use it to make calls, and occasionally they give me free minutes. last time i only used about 10 minutes of 60 free, to be used within the week.
but i have wondered recently whether i might need to get a smart phone. with track n trace etc. also useful to be able to get/ send emails on the hop.
but i am much less sociable than most of you. certainly would never use video call.
and i don't like the idea of having banking information on it.

Love my iPhone. I’d miss it most for the instant access.
Instant photos, pinpointing where we are, when out on long walks, contacting DH when we’ve split up in museums or hyper markets. Listening to music or audiobooks out walking or when I can’t sleep.
I use it for so many things besides contacting friends and family and it’s so quick!
I didn’t realise how much I missed using it for quick posts on GN until those few days of technical hitches when I had to switch on and log in on my laptop or borrow my iPad from DH.
I use a laptop for most work though. Means I can only do that at home.

Perhaps it's different if you have an iPad and phone - I haven't.

Sorry, another vote for.....

Another vite fire iPhone and iPad p, phone app records my steps, reminders, alarm, and so on. Agree MerylStreep, to answer the original question, a chip in the body will follow, eventually controlled by thought, not in my lifetime though!

We keep being forced to miss out or manage with the one smartphone we share. It does not have much memory as it was a hand-me-down as its owner was forced to replace it with one with a lot more memory. Not happy and it has made for very anxious times.

I love my iPad and iPhone, the phone was a reconditioned one and serving me very well for a fraction of the price I would absolutely hate to be without them They are my t oral companions in so many ways My poor grandson who has to do all his work related stuff on it, hates it and finds it very difficult to manage although he loves it for his socialising music and banking

I have a smart phone, but I am a dumb user. Most I use it for Whatsapp or calls. Also as a camera. Occasionally as a voice recorder. Oh, I like to be able to use it as a calculator too.

But honestly, all the other apps people feel are essential, I have no use for.

I'm happy to keep my smart phone.
"My" being the important word; bought by me, for me, so I can keep what's important to me on it.

I'm with you Merylstreep!

I'd love to be around when the human race is chipped. Everything will be done by fingerprint or retina scanning.
Then the technophobes will be screaming why can't we keep our smartphones ?

I have a memory card, then I can't find anything.
And when the apps update they revert back to internal storage.

Same as Casdon and Spidergran3. Keys and iPhone are all that I need when out shopping. I would hate to go back to using cards.

When I visited my daughter, it was invaluable for the train tickets, times and delays.

Track and trace would work if everyone used the app on their smart phones. NHS QR codes.

My last iPhone cost me £120 (used one) last August + £45 for brand new Apple Battery. I pay £10.50 a month for all texts, calls and a massive data allowance.

I have iCloud and do a back up on iTunes. Same with my laptop. Do a back up every other day.