When did having a smartphone become compulsory?

Wouldn’t want to be without mine now so handy for all sorts of things
We have never brought a smart phone they are both on contract at around £25 per month and get upgraded every couple of years.
I have an iPad which is fine but I can only use it when connected to the internet at home or in a hotel ect.

We have phones which are not connected to the Internet ('dumb phones'). We are very happy with them. We can make calls, send texts, take photos, which is all we want to do. We have pcs and I have a tablet. Hopefully we don't have to have smart phones. DH does Internet banking on his pc. We are not complete technophobes but life is quite complicated enough without any more devices.

I don’t have a smart phone ( can’t even use the phone I do have) but use my iPad for everything. It broke down last week and I couldn’t function….contacting people, buying things, paying bills, reading the news. But I’ve realised I need to get a good phone and learn how to use it. But they’re @ £1000 and I assume I’ll have to pay a monthly fee too?

A solicitor generally needs to see your passport or photographic driving licence to check you are who you say you are plus evidence of address in the form of utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill. If they are not satisfied with these find a solicitor who is. Using an app sounds very unsatisfactory - I recall a black man trying to provide evidence of identity using a white man’s passport. He fled when questioned.

Technology is designed to make life easier for Governments, local authorities, the NHS, banks, supermarkets, and every other aspect of life, rather than for the consumer. There is sadly no escape, once our generation has gone, the next one down will think nothing of it.

Removing cash transactions will be next. Maybe not totally in our lifetime, but in the next 30 years.