Will You Wait to Buy a Smartphone?

I switched to a smartphone almost a year ago and haven't looked back. Having the ability to use the Internet anywhere is such a convenience. For example, when our car was broken into near Seattle, I was able to cancel all of my mother's stolen credit cards and later, turn off service to her stolen cell phone within minutes. That would've been really difficult without a smartphone since we had none of the information with us. I was able to look it up online in seconds.

The problem mentioned in the blog entry doesn't really bother me - if I'm talking on the phone I don't need to use the Internet at the same time. (Although when it becomes available I'll probably wonder how I lived without it.)

Hi Savvy,

I agree that is convenient, available and useable all the time but we have a life and I don't want to loose time that many do for irrevelent communications, texting, and e-mailing. Every opportunity must be exploited in a defined time. Cellphone is open from morning to night, equipment for pictures in the car or in hand for special occasions, at home, internet at business only and not at home because you have no life with someone or with yourself.

First is me and my life is so short that I don't want to waste for other than my wants and needs.

However, the choice is ours, Gil.

I find that my smartphone saves me time. If I'm out running errands I can check to see if another store I need to visit has a location nearby and is open (so I can fit all of my stops into a single trip - thus saving time). If I remember something I need to do, I can email it to myself (or someone else) so I don't forget later. If I need to make a phone call but don't have the number, I can easily look it up and make the call immediately without having to wait to look it up later (when the place of business may be closed). Taking a photo of a product in a store is a lot less obtrusive with my smartphone - and it's a lot easier to email it to someone immediately, without the added hassle of connecting a USB cable to a computer, uploading the image, adding the file to an email, and then sending it (thus saving time).

But I suppose it's not for everyone.

I will probably wait many, many years before I buy a smart phone. I already have too many connectivity distractions- I don't need any more...

Hi Warner,

You use the right word: DISTRACTIONS. I support your idea, Gil.

Hi Moose,

Yes, I wait to buy a smartphone. And, I add the foolwing question that supposed to be in the title: "Why?"

To answer to the second and valueable question, I don't think that I will own one because I don't need as many owners just show off with it.

This is a modern "gadget" as was the "hoola hoop" and many others just came and gone. Use Paretto's law, 80/20 and repeat on 80 to 64/14 and 20 to 16/4 and and we discover and see that we don't need. I have a cellphone without any other function and use for business and others. If I need to make a picture, I will use my 16 years old camera.

It's good business and that's all, Gil.

I will wait for a SMART phone that is "smart enough" NOT to function or allow use while I am driving. Yes, the phone will know that I am at the wheel in heavy traffic and will, at least, automatically reply to messages or calls, "I am driving. Wait just a cotton-pick-en minute while I find a safe condition to respond" and remind me (voice says "Caution, driving conditions are hazardous. It is NOT smart to use this phone while driving. Your calling (or messaging) party has been notified" (feature patent pending).

Looks like this is a service you can add to your existing phone:
http://www.vehiclevibes.com/2010/01/disable-your-cell-phone-while-driving/

I use a simple cell phone, which my workplace supplied to me 7 years ago. I carry it around, but hardly ever turn it on. Use it infrequently to place a random long-distance call, and for emergency purposes.

Recently, I purchased my first wireless, handheld device; an iPod Touch. With this device I can access my home email account (which is not allowed at work on company network-connected devices). And have my whole music collection at my fingertips. No monthly fees.

A smart phone looks like a very cool device, however, I cannot justify the pricey monthly fees to have one just to make an unfrequent long distance call, or check email, etc.

So I probably won't be aquiring one in the near future, no matter how savvy the unit might be.

MeZa

Do not wait. If you want a smartphone, go ahead and buy it. The jury is still out on simultaneous voice and data, and whether or not it will be available.

Strictly speaking, GSM does not handle simultaneous voice and data. It does part of it, the voice part, but the data part is handled by another network overlay -- HSPA (High Speed Packet Access). Both of these have to be available in order to get voice and data at the same time. Unfortunately, you don't get the full effect of HSPA, either. What the network does is use some of the unallocated slots for the GSM voice call and fills them in with data. From a carrier perspective, it makes good sense and uses all of the available time and spectrum. From a user perspective, it may be less than optimal as the voice will get priority and data uses leftover resources. The result is slower data.

On CDMA, it is a network enhancement called 1x Advanced that is providing the simultaneous voice and data. Wait for it because there may be issues with that, too. 1x Advanced works by allowing a voice call on the 1xRTT network and data on the EVDO network. In this scenario, there are several requirements:

1. Both EVDO and 1xRTT must be available in your location.

2. The mobile device must be able to work on two separate frequencies at the same time (two radios, two antennas)

3. The two frequencies must be separated by 10 MHz. (This part has not been stressed by Qualcomm, the chipset manufacturer.) Depending on the licenses held and the current network configuration in a given area, this may not be possible.

Finally, as many of the posts here indicate, there may not really be that much of a demand for simultaneous voice and data. And the only reasons that a carrier will offer a service is to keep customer or make more money. Simultaneous voice and data may not do well on either.