There are two generations answering this question. I am retired and would rather use my tower PC and old flip phone. Since I'm home most of the time it is easy to send a quick email to any of the kids to read on their smart phones. Can just answer or hang up with the flip. My upgrade is due and need a new phone. The darn flip phones are the same price and now with additional options which are of no use to me. The larger phone screens are nice, but still need my darn glasses to read anything of importance and it is too easy to go somewhere into cyberspace not wanted. Admission though, I would definitely use the app to compare pricing/stores. Can't tell you how many times someone has to show me a pic they have on their phone....I either nod or say something nice unless my glasses are nearby. The kids have accommodated me by sending pics through email. And I'll hang on to my Nikon D70 with all the functions in my head. The gathering of old people not wanting smart phones will fade away and this is not too far away. "New" old people will be the generation already skilled. But I have a vision of needing the old magnifying screens being put over them, those used in front of the first TVs in the 40s. Even an Ipad drives me nuts due to size in getting around for all I want to do. Am an ex IT person, 40 years of computer evolution experience. Still love new software and learning more. I like my fast access, multiple software programs and a "fat" built computer with a 42" screen for photography. We can be set in our ways, but there are physical limitations which also direct us to what works for our needs. Regarding the 700 a month. Enough people, aps, games, online use can easily jump to this. Family plan or not.. My son downloads books, usually once a month while he is sleeping. The data used is about 600 for this one shot. Phones used for business can easily run the monthly charge posted. This reminds me of one of my favorite commercials from Office Depot. Grandma is taking pictures of her kids with a hand stapler she picked up instead of the camera they gave her. My humor may be off the map.

I just got a Smartphone last year. I was against them for a long time. And if I didn't have a houseful of active kids, I could live without one. However, it has really been useful (though not necessary) to have. I have four kids who have multiple activities and sports all over the place. I keep my calendar on it which dh can access from his phone or the internet so that makes scheduling things very easy - we can both check the calendar before scheduling things (although I must admit, I prefer my paper calendar and still use one in addition to my online calendar). Because I'm constantly out and about driving from one activity to the next and am often away from home and my computer for hours at a time, being able to read my email has saved me at times (canceled at the last minute practices, directions to a field, etc). I can set reminders on it so if I'm out and want to remind myself of something to do when I get home, my phone will actually tell me as I'm turning down my street that I have to do x, y or z and will continue to remind me until I check the box. I'm not one who desires or wants to be "connected" at all times. I don't answer my phone in public, I don't text or look at my phone when I"m in the company of others and I don't want people to be able to reach me whenever they want (I don't give my cell phone out to anyone unless they need it for logistical reasons). I only use my phone when I'm sitting idle somewhere (like waiting to pick my kids up from school or at a sports practice). I was torn last year about getting a smartphone b/c I didn't want to be one of "those" people, but in the end, realized it would be very helpful to me b/c of my schedule and my kids' schedules. That said, it isn't a necessity and I wouldn't recommend getting one if you don't really have a reason for one as it is costly!

Update. I visited both the Apple Store (to hold iPhones) and the AT&T store to discuss upfront costs and plans. The jury's still out on whether to get a 6s or 6s Plus. I was annoyed at first when I had to sign up and wait to be seen by someone in the AT&T store. I almost left in a polite huff and decided that would be foolish, so I hunkered down and waited. I'm glad I did because a very very knowledgeable young woman answered all my questions. She actually gave me way more info than I needed, but here's the deal: In my case, lascatx is wrong about them charging me monthly for the balance of the phone and not stopping until I bring it to their attention. In the past, I have opted for 2-year contracts at a lower, subsidized price. All I paid monthly was for my plan, i.e., voice, data, text. That was/is one of the benefits of locking into a contract. The salesperson told me that AT&T is one of the few carriers still doing this and soon, within a year, they will cease altogether. The option is still available to me to do this, but it would be the last time. My $70/mo total bill, which includes an unlimited data plan, is still mine to keep. I can buy the phone at the lesser amount and agree to a 2-year contract, or I can buy the phone for the full price. I'm not interested in paying over time and having it added to my monthly bill. If I decided to break my contract at any point, I will have to pony up the balance. So, really no risk at all for me to do the contract, as it's a savings of $450. She mentioned $40 here or there if I do one or the other, but at that point, I had reached my saturation point and I'm not gonna fuss over that amount. I hope this has been helpful. I have an existing plan I'd like to keep; I seem to do well with phones for two years; paying less is also nice.

Might be help or ideas here, http://theappfactor.com/how-to-rotate-sideways-videos-on-iphone-and-ipad/