When did having a smartphone become compulsory?

I have just signed up for the QwikPark app and looking forward to using it. No more tickets or queuing to pay.

Being housebound I have no use for a mobile phone but I would not be without my IPad. For homeshopping and keeping in touch with family and relatives via Messenger.
I do not do online banking because I have one simple account.

A really smart phone will be smart enough to stay out of my way! Like some here I do deeply resent being forced to use a certain piece of technology.

I got a basic smartphone for about £100 because the software for my home security refused to run on a tablet. Its a sim only deal so I just PAYG. Ive only just started using it for texting because I consider that a very clumsy and limiting way to communicate, I dont bother with the camera because I have a whole tribe of perfectly good cameras for my business.

I dont use it for banking although I do bank online from my office computer.

I have a phone but I really hate having to pay for parking via phone

I was pretty much forced into getting a smartphone two years ago when I received an email from NHS inviting me for a Covid booster. The email included a bar-coded link to making an appointment and I was unable to access it. Not wanting to miss out on the invitation I reluctantly got a smartphone (Samsung as it was a reasonable price). With hindsight I should have got an i-phone as my latest NHS hearing aids are now blue tooth. My now slightly dated Samsung does not allow me access to the blue tooth functions which is very frustrating. DDs say I definitely need an i-phone but I'm fed up with being a slave to every latest gadget and update. I am hopeless with technology and still miss my old simple mobile phone while I continue to flounder looking for things on my Samsung. Life as a technophobe...

…..here’s a laugh ….I popped into our local launderette the other day to see how much the large machines costs to use ….I need to wash a duvet. £8….the last time I used one it was £5…..point being you could struggle around with 8 pound coins OR scan your phone to pay!!

£1,000 is what you’ll pay for a new I-phone 13 ….. but you can pick up a fone a lot cheaper ….I’ve always had I-phones …but this I’m using is an 11 and about 4 years old and still working fine! I paid about £550 cash as didn’t want a contract …..it works out cheaper for my particular use to have SIM only ….provided by Tesco at £10 per month.

My neighbour in the flat below has no modern technology at all. All she has is a tv with a remote and just freeview and the most simplest of mobile phones. She has no Ipads, tablets or anything connected to the internet. She asked me to help her get a landline with BT. Well that was a performance. I ordered her the most easiest of phones and I set it up for her ready for BT to connect her line. The day after it was back in the box ready to be sent back. She didn't want it plugged in all the time (using electricity). I said it had to be to keep it charged up but doesn't use much anyway. She also wanted to be able to dial the numbers like the old phones. We were up and down stairs to cancel BT call out. I told her that phones with a dial were a thing of the past. It was bl**dy hard work I can tell you.

In 1992, IBM announced the very first smartphone. It released the Simon Personal Communicator (SPC) for purchase in 1994.
However did we manage prior to this event? Maybe we actually talked together......

If you’re used to an iPad I’d go with an iPhone… that’s what we’ve got. My iPhone gets passed to my Son when I get a new one and his gets passed on to Dad… Son, DiL and 2 Grandsons (7 & 10) all have iPads… DiL has an iPhone that she purchased from a company that refurbishes them. I think I pay about £10 a month with Sky for unlimited calls and data…

Delila (which my fool phone insists should be Delia), you’re welcome.

I would find life nigh on impossible without my smart phone.

Oh, that’s interesting. I’ll look into it again. Thanks Siope.

WhatsApp is fine on iOS. I have the app on my iPhone and never had an issue.

I have an iPad and an android phone. I find the Android operating system much more complicated (probably wouldn’t if I’d never had an iPad to compare it with), but one advantage of android devices is WhatsApp, which I don’t think is available on iOS devices?
Smartphones are definitely worth having, whatever the operating system, but I’ve kept my clunky 12year old simple Nokia that raises a laugh every time I produce it, as it’s simple, cheap, works fine as a phone, and is small & tough enough to carry in a pocket on country walks with the dog. £5 lasts me months.

I paid £50 upfront then 24£ a month for a Samsung with unlimited texts calls and a large amount of Internet access.
Online banking on my PC won't have that on my phone.

Love my iphone & have it in my pocket always! Only time I use my laptop is when one of the few things that wont work on my phone or ipad are needed! Then I get annoyed with it as it is so slow! Having AMD I use the ipad when my eyes are having a bad day & wont focus on the phone! I get told that I have never grown up so maybe that is why at 78 I love my iphone!

Seriously - what do if you do if you can't afford £10 a month to park your car, and you need your car because you are 2 miles from a bus stop and 84 yrs old with arthritis?
Answer:- Stop using town centre shops. That's what I've done.

I think it is now you need to protest in the UK about this.

We have a different system in Denmark, where proof of identity is either your passport or your driving licence. You would normally show the actual, physical licence, but you may use a digital copy of your driving licence if you want, but not of your passport.

Anyone wanting a digital version of any document would happily accept a digital photo sent as an e-mail attachment.

Our authorities, or rather some of them, such as our equivalent to Citizen's Advice has started a stupid practise of asking questions to prove you are actually the person who your passport states you are! We ended up having to ring both my sisters-in-law as DH had no idea when either of his parents were born, married or died, nor had I.

I love the new technology I must admit! It makes my life so much easier as I am inherently lazy! No more queuing for the bank, no more cluttering up the place with paper bills, no more filling out long paper forms etc. Photos all in one place-no bulky albums, video calls etc. I can even use it to pay for my shopping. iPhone links up great with my iPad too! It costs me £30 per month for the latest model with unlimited calls/texts. As my wider family are all over the place it’s nice to be able to chat as long as I want. I certainly would hate to be without my smartphone.

My smartphone is my lifesaver.
Its very painful being dragged into using one, but it's worth it when you realise the benefits. I am much closer to my adult children and grandsons. None of them live near us, and I was devastated when my daughter moved to the States. However, we are all as close as ever using Whatsapp. We can talk to each other for hours at a time all for free. I am also the carer for my husband, who has dementia, and my life can be very lonely. I am able to snatch time for myself using Kindle and Applebooks, and also listen to audiobooks which help me sleep. All this is done on iPhone. There are lots of things I don't know how to use on it, but as my memory isn't the best these days, I do use it to remind me of things I would otherwise forget - the pressures for the tyres, measurements of household items - many items. I urge anyone who is scared of a smartphone just to give it a try.

TiggyW

I usually buy a second hand iPhone when one of my younger relatives upgrades. I pay £5 a month for a SIM only contract. We disconnected our landline because of all the annoying sales calls.
I wish smart phones had been around years ago!

We've never been in the telephone directory in our current home and I always register the number with the TPS. I can honestly say that I can't recall having had a sales call over the past two and a half years.
However I do get spam calls on my mobile!

My husband did have a mobile phone when he was working but always left it on his desk and never learnt to use it properly. He's suffering now that there are so few banks around, having to go miles to do his paying in.
He is also really irritated by not being able to park without a phone, though last time he needed to park no-one was able to use the phone machines anyway. It appears that you different apps all over the place.
I'm planning to force him to have a basic phone, if only so that he can park and bank. It will also mean that he can contact the AA if necessary, he's had two blow-outs on motorways after the winter gales.

As others have said a smart phone doesn't need to be expensive, and you can buy one sim free for about £100.00 lots of makes Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, etc. I have always found the local Tesco phone dept in store, so helpful the staff have always been helpful and help you with the process of setting up your phone and they have plans from £7.00 per month ( plus the cost of the phone on top) they also give Tesco points for your purchase and your plan . Good luck

I can remember a few years back trying to open an account with a well-known bank - went through everything and at the end I had to give a mobile phone number as no transactions could happen without going via the app - it was a bit of a joke as there was no mobile reception in the village. I used a different bank.