Smart move?

[anneed]

Trying to overcome my fear of new technology (and being horrified at O2 now charging 35p a minute for pay as you go calls) I have bought a 'smart' phone from Sainsbury's (8p per minute).

'Easy to use' 'Great for first timers' said the blurb.

HA HA! (Hollow laughter)

I managed to put the sim card and battery in and charge it up. Then utterly stumped. I couldn't even work out how to call the helpline.

Hot, bothered and nearly crying with frustration.

Vowed I'd return it the next day but having now calmed down I'm going to persevere. I've managed to buy a £15 'bundle' which sounds good value giving 800 mins of calls, unlimited texts and 2GB of web usage free for 30 days. In effect this means totally free use for the 30 days as I don't actually use my mobile much.

So, you clever lot out there, please tell me how you love your smart phones and would never go back to basics and give me a good reason to keep trying to master the pesky contraption!

[Manoverboard]

Smart phones ... nope !

We both carry half price cheapo phones from Tesco, both are Nokia and PAYG.

Other than texts and emergency use it's a case of " Get the kettle on, we'll be there in 15 minutes "

[Ranchi]

Yes, afraid I use an IPhone & do like it. Had a Blackberry before that & was pleased with that. I'm afraid they were both hand me downs ( being an only child I thought this a novel experience)! The only thing I dislike about smart phones is the problem of the screens in bright ( or even moderate) sunlight. For the same reason I will only consider a camera with a view finder. Use Mr Branson's SIM card but only because we get it for next to nothing because we have the tv & landline with them

[anneed]

Hey, I'm getting the hang of this. After three days I can make calls, text and use the radio (hang on, I could do all that before).

And I keep accidentally hitting a button that asks me to talk to it.

Downloaded the instruction booklet - 68 pages - so will have plenty of bedtime reading.

Perhaps I will finally understand the mysterious world of 'apps'...

[oldbluefox]

They're a great invention if you've got it with you. Half the time I haven't a clue where it is and sometimes have to use the landline to call it and follow the ring. It's always somewhere safe, just so safe I can't find it myself. I'm afraid I can't get used to the idea my life will come to an end if I'm parted from it.
And those who meander around in the middle of the pavement not looking where they are going whilst gazing at their little screens are a menace and should be banished.

[gfwgfw]

Smartphones are great and easy to use, and much cheaper for making telephone calls than land lines

[GillD46]

Smartphones are great and easy to use, and much cheaper for making telephone calls than land lines

Indeed - I have unlimited calls with my contract, our BT bill has decreased since I took out my iPhone with O2. And as I have it synced with my iPad, I have my whole computer with me at all times.

[Ranchi]

So what are your favourite apps?
I use facebook a lot, banking apps, train timetables & booking ( I am not happy that I can get cheaper rail tickets using the app & e-tickets than people who don't have a smart phone...that is unfair.) the only app that I have paid for is a Flight Radar which lets you follow fights worldwide. I also have used an app that lets me use mobile to use my landline account to make free phone calls from anywhere where I can get wifi.

[GillD46]

I use FB and Skype mostly. But I do have several games. I never use my mobile for banking.

[Frank Manning]

We are ultra careful, and only use ours for telephone and text. Always take it out with us for emergencies, and always have it turned off in the car. I do FB, but not on the mobile. I would consider myself pretty sick if I was that desperate to be on FB, sorry no offence meant. Like OBF I frequently forget where I put it when I get home and have to call the number to find it. We use the phone camera sometimes, and keep photos of our daughter and grandson on it.

[CaroleF]

I'm seriously thinking that I may have to change from my bog standard Nokia - with buttons - to a Smart Phone of some kind. Both my daughters have them. I mainly use my phone for texting, rarely for calls but I know if I had a Smart Phone I would use the internet on it. So all you technical experts out there can you help?
1. Can I have a Pay as You Go and still have internet access or do I have to have a contract to get that?
2. I have Vodafone at the moment - it seems to suit me - have good reception here and in most places I go to. Should I stick with them?
3. Do I have to have a new Sim Card and transfer all my data?
4. What sort of model should I look at - I don't mind paying for something good, not necessarily looking for the cheapest but as I said I'm not keen on taking out a contract?

Any advice very gratefully received. When I look at one of my daughters' phones - I think it's Samsung - it looks so complicated and she writes text messages by just moving her finger across the screen, not tapping each individual letter - looks very scary to someone who is used to an old Nokia! Just to say I have an iPad which I use but probably not as much as my laptop so I am used to a certain amount of modern technology!

Carole

[Manoverboard]

They are wonderful devices but my thinking suggests that the biggest winners will be Specsavers when all you trendy types have failing eyesight as a consequence of squinting at web pages on a miniscule screen ...