Are smartphones a waste of time and money?

[azanon]

They are WAY over-priced. WAY over priced. Not worth it at all IMO. They charge for things that cost them no money, i.e. texts / data etc. I used to sell cell phones for 3 years, I have some knowledge.

Want a GPS? Cool, go buy a GPS. You won't have to pay $40 a month to use it.

Want a phone? You don't need to pay an extra $40 for that, any regular plan / phone will do.

Want internet? Use a fvcking computer. You shouldn't even be paying $40 a month for that at home.

Those things being said if I had a bunch of extra disposible income, I'd probably get one. But they are a rip-off and I'd like to spend my money on more useful things.

Whew! I wouldn't pay $40/month either! I didn't get one of these until it came down to $15/month (AT&T)! The basic $15 data plan was more than enough considering I have wi-fi most everywhere I go, including home. And I don't have a text plan, and rarely text.

How's that joke go - 2008 called - they want their lowest cell phone price package back.

 

[Alle_Gory]

I don't know where you are from, but in America almost all the major cellphone companies require you to have a data plan when you sign a new contract or upgrade your cell phone.

Uh yeah don't buy a phone from a major carrier? $600 for a phone, **** that.

 

[ArcBound]

Uh yeah don't buy a phone from a major carrier? $600 for a phone, **** that.

Major Carrier= more coverage and more people are forced to used it. In fact in my area there are no carriers that don't charge data plans and almost every single store only carries smart phones to ensure you end up with one.

And it doesn't matter where you bought your phone, if the carriers detect it is a smartphone they can tack on a data plan without notifying you, even if you bought your phone unlocked from anywhere else.

The only real (and sh!tty) alternative is to use prepaid phones.

And most major carriers don't sell phones for $600, they sell them for extremely cheap. They don't make that much money on the sale of the phone, but the fact that you have to get a data plan with it.