Smart Phones Aren't Worth It. (iPhone, Android, tethering, GPS)

[sponger42]

Or are they? Looking for someone to poke holes in my figures:

Current:

2 (dumb) cell phone family plan for $50/mo ($25 per phone)
Don't use even half the minutes or included texts. No data or extras.

DSL 1Mbps down, 400kbps up, $20/mo.
Usually pull down AT LEAST 10GB per month. Probably more like 20.

Total Telecommunications cost: $70/mo

...

The cheapest smartphone plan I can find is at least $75/phone. Even then, the data limit is around 2GB. Add tethering (assuming I'm not sneaky enough to get around it) and that's an extra $20, plus some plans which charge extra for android (+$10/mo).

With even a single phone, I'm breaking $100 per month. With 2 smart phones, it's more like $200 per month.

There's no way that the convenience of a smartphone justifies a 150% increase in my communications bill.

...

Even if I get a very limited data plan, the family cost still breaks at least $100, plus an extra $20 to keep the home internet. That's still a 80-110% increase in my total bill.

I could live with a 30-40% increase--since that's what I expect to gain in productivity/convenience from a smartphone--but I can't find numbers that work out. Anybody got any ideas? See anything I'm missing?

[stan4]

No. I don't think so. Not for my needs. I am sure some business person could justify the extra expense.

I have a regular cell phone - pretty much unlimited minutes, unlimited texts (including pictures, etc), and I never drop a call (and I always have the best signal out of any group of people I'm with)...for about $60 a month.

To go up to a smart phone where all the features are enabled to be used fluidly and realistically, I'd have to go up to at least $100 a month (like my wife's iphone plan).

I have internet at home. I have internet at work. I have internet in my car (as well as Nav/Onstar)...why the F would I need a smart phone?

[NJBest]

Your numbers are off.

Cheapeast smartphone postpay plan is $70/month. Has unlimited data and text, 450 minutes (which is less important because of the following feature), unlimited mobile to mobile.

This is the Sprint EPRP plan.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by NJBest

unlimited mobile to mobile.

Which is the way almost everyone connects these days. I know very few people on landlines.

The hidden charge on the Sprint Plan is the $10 monthly charge for "premium" (read: android) devices. Still the best plan overall.

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Which is the way almost everyone connects these days. I know very few people on landlines.

The hidden charge on the Sprint Plan is the $10 monthly charge for "premium" (read: android) devices. Still the best plan overall.

My $70/month includes the $10 smartphone fee (the actual plan is $59.99/mo. It does not include the $10 4g fee though, but you don't need that to get a smartphone.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

Which is the way almost everyone connects these days. I know very few people on landlines.

The hidden charge on the Sprint Plan is the $10 monthly charge for "premium" (read: android) devices. Still the best plan overall.

You know what most people without land lines don't realize?

You have no enhanced 911.

Which means your address and location aren't available to the dispatch people when you call.
So if you can't give them all that info, you're screwed.

Until they perfect figuring out where you are without a land line, I'll always have a land line.

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by stan4

You know what most people without land lines don't realize?

You have no enhanced 911.

Which means your address and location aren't available to the dispatch people when you call.
So if you can't give them all that info, you're screwed.

Until they perfect figuring out where you are without a land line, I'll always have a land line.

That's not true. Cell phones are just as good as landline.

Here's how it works:

Older phones use triangulation to locate you within 300 meters. This is crossreferenced with your home address. If they intersect, then it is assumed that you are at home. Many phones that are 2003 and newer have gps as well, but gps fails indoors.

Newer phones (2008 and newer) use AGPS (which will lock indoors) to locate you within 20 meters. This is crossreferenced with your home address. If they intersect, then it is assumed that you are at home. Typically locked within 30 seconds of initiation.

Where this fails is if you are not at home. But then AGPS still provides longitude and latitude, which is better than a landline can do when you are away from home.

E911 has regulations for all wireless phones.

[Peregrine]

O come on. Even worst case scenario and GPS cannto find you...
You will spend $30-$50 a month just in case you need to call 911?
Call 911 much?
Makes sense just in case you are choking and cannot speak.
If you have to call 911, you will be unable to speak and say "I am at 24455 Main Street, Cleveland, Ohio"???
Yea, makes sense.

As to the Original Poster... you know what? Smartphone don't make sense for people that won't use all the features on it.
So there ya' go. Your point is valid.
I use mine for everything. I'd be lost without it.

[stan4]

#1. Thirty dollars?!!! Who is screwing you over for a land line at thirty dollars?!!!

#2. How the F do they know who is calling to 'cross reference' your home address?

#3. Working with EMS and dispatch closely, I can tell you that the triangulation actually takes a bit of time...it's not instant.

#4. Yes, lots of people who call 911 are not able to coherently give you their name and address for reasons that should be obvious.

Until my EMS guys and dispatch say the cell phones work as well, damn skippy I am going to keep a land line.

[texdav]

For my needs ;no. But for what I my wife needs;yes her Iphone is worth it to her.