I rarely use the "smartphone" features of my phone and am seriously considering just going back to a cell phone for making calls and text messaging. The only times any of the other features of the "smartphone" have been used is by my granddaughters.

The purpose of smart phones is to have internet access, including map directions and email access. If you don't need nor want that, then yeah, go back to a regular phone!

Keep in mind that you'll have pay each month for a data plan in order to take advantage of the smart phone's capabilities. Not worth it to me, so I'm doing fine with my not-so-smart phone.

Internet access is what makes them smart... to the tune of ~$35 extra each month..

That said, I LOVE mine and can't see going back to a 'dumb' phone.

Besides the advantage of internet access, don't overlook the disadvantages. Besides cost, you're also going to be needing to charge it more often. Most have a much lower battery life than a regular phone. And the more cutesy you want to get with a bunch of apps running, the more power it uses. I know several people who can't even run their phone a full day. Some will have extended life batteries available though but "extra life"=extra cost.

I bought a tablet a while ago to get an idea if I would want the advantages of a smart phone. It has been convenient a couple times. I don't even carry it anymore. I'm not tied to the internet like some. So for me, it hasn't sold itself yet. Maybe someday.

I am on Virgin Mobile unlimited data plan for $35 a month w 4G, it was $25mo until last summer when I changed phones and lost my grandfathered in status. My service is great but not as fast on 4G as my DH's Verizon 4G but his is free since he is an engineer for them. The only other provider w unlimited data still is T-mobile I think.

I use my Smartphone for email, internet, maps, banking, music player (MP3) while working out, shopping on, at night I use a sleep app w 2 ocean sounds, in the morning it's my multi-alarm clock, FB, Pinterest etc... I have a crappy 1G phone for work LOL w/o internet connection which is fine I don't want to have to answer work emails off the clock. During the week I am on my work cell either talking or txting for nearly 8 hrs straight so I very rarely use my personal phone other than for internet related things. On weekends I use my personal phone more but even then I only talk maybe 2 hours a weekend on it LOL. In my busy spring, I am on phones 12+ hrs a day 5+ days a week for work I DO NOT want to speak to anyone on a phone if I don't have to LOL I prefer txting by far. I could not live w/o it thou, my DH hacked mine Fri evening to get improved battery life and wiped away everything but my contacts LOL, I was not a happy camper! still working on getting everything back...just don't have time ~ liz

Yes it is more expensive, but once you start using all the features, it would be hard to go back. For example, texting is very popular. You can verbally dictate your texts if you find it difficult to type on the small keyboard.
On a road trip, you can ask Siri where the nearest gas stain, restaurant or attraction is. Or, you can access the internet from where ever you are.
As stated above, you can get your emails, have your phone remind you of upcoming appointments. You can even have it remind you to stop and get milk on the way home!
You can also watch movies on it, play games back and forth with friends or your kids.
I look it as a form of entertainment as well as a phone.
If money is the issue, it really is not a necessity.

Between 1998 and 2006 I ran a home-based design business and because of the level of service I offered I was tied to my home all day and most nights. I set up a baby monitor near my computer and in other parts of the house so I could hear emails come in. That at least freed me up in my own home. In 2006 I went to work for an outside company I think just to get out of the house.

I left that job last September and started up my business again but now that I have an iPhone (aka "smart phone") I am so much more free to go outside the home and do things without fear of missing a client's call or email. Life for me is so much easier knowing I am always within my client's reach.

Even if I didn't have my own business, having used a smart phone now for a couple years, it would be pretty tough to go back to a regular cell phone.

Jodi-

Apps that I use on my Iphone are Noaa weather radar for severe weather, facebook where my friends, charities, news and organizations groups are my favorite places to go. I also use it for GPS quite often because we have kids that do sports or events that make me look up maps. My car is located via GPS and I can see where we are in relation to our destination. A couple months ago I downloaded a Florida Keys app so in any spare time I can read up on our summer vacation destination.

I use 'siri' quite often. She's my phones attitude too. At this point she knows my name and keeps us entertained with her answers. Its pretty easy to use the voice text, and the voice answers that come over the vehicle microphone.

The only problem I have with my phone is the same problem I found was using it when driving. Just like eating, or personal care, I have to remind myself to take care of business before or after driving. I will have a conversation on my, I guess it's called Bluetooth which connects to my phone when enter the car. We have a long Highway by the house, which isn't crowded. The microphone above my head makes for easy talking. I feel relieved to know my high school girls are able to call or text me if they need to 'check in'.
The car syncs up with the Iphones music but I'll use the USB port in my car, which seems to save energy and charges the phone when I'm not using it too.
I have to say there are plenty more apps I use daily and I feel a little lost when I leave it at home. I do put it away while I visit with other people though.
Hope that gives you some more thoughts about smart phones. Even my dh has recently changed to a heavy duty smart phone. It's a Casio Commando, with a double heavy duty case made for a farmer! We have a free app called Live360 that GPS's all our phones. I see where he is farming when I need to get out there. (or where my girls are if I'm concerned about their whereabouts)
Whew! that's just the tip of the iceberg!

you don't need an Iphone for voice calling, txting or internet searching infact Google Voice has out tested Siri which is ad based search results, while Google is not. Google Voice tests at 85% correct while Siri is just above 50% correct on average. I have a cousin who runs international sales for Apple and I am all about android so I always keep up on my droid vs apple stats LOL ;-)) another good point on smartphones is you get national weather service alerts when issued just by activating the GPS function of your phone. ~ liz

I will never go back to a dumb phone again. I use my smartphone everyday.

No one mentioned the amazing quality of the cameras. Better than some of the digital cameras out there. With the added convenience of texting, emailing, uploading to FB etc the photos quickly and easily without having to connect to a computer. Not sure what I would do without my phone's camera.

Only thing I don't use much on my smart phone is
the "calling" feature.....lol I don't like talking on a phone....

Sometimes I call my phone, My Camera. lol, it holds way to many pictures and I share all sorts of info with friends or family because of them.
Was talking about Thundershirts with a friend whose grand- dog is scared of storms. Brought up a picture of a thundershirt, or jacket to show her. Also read somewhere that a heavy tshirt can work as well.
My smart phone cost an extra $30.00 a month. Well worth it!

Reading these posts, I'm equating smart phones to Pinterest. That is, many of my friends love Pinterest and are totally hooked on it. I would probably love it, too, but I don't want to get hooked. Therefore, I've never gone near the site.

I'm sure I'd grow very attached to a smart phone, too--that is, if I bought a large size Android so I'd be able to see well enough to use it. But you don't miss what you don't have.

BTW, I've seen some excellent photos come out of iPhones. But I have a long history with photography and would always want a real camera no matter what. Preferably several. ;-)

Speaking of calling your phone "Camera" ... I went one step further and made mine look like a camera. :-) (see image below)

Since I travel a lot, I use the iPhone camera (which is exceptionally good) to take a photo in each location I take photos of with my big camera. That way, if I don't know exactly where a shot was taken (especially helpful during my recent three week tour of SE Asia), I look at an iPhone pic I took in the same area and let the built-in GPS tell me where I was.

I also use the weather and pedometer apps a bit too.

Bought this camera-look bamboo iPhone cover in Hong Kong this last February.

Love your iPhone case Jodi.

My Galaxy S is my computer in my pocket. I don;t talk much on my phone. I text a lot. And then, I'm on the internet fast. WoooHoo! I can google anything quickly. Instant knowledge ! And gps,etc. And talking to text or swyping is GREAT.DH has a Blackberry -- so OLD school! Love my android and my apps!