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Mobile Phones

Do you own one? Do you feel the need for one?

How ‘smart’ is your phone? Do you get the maximum use out of it? What do you use it for?


Hopefully this might get a bit of ‘chat’ going.


I personally have two phones. An iPhone 4 which I contracted for 2 years with ‘3’ but because of signal problems in Scotland I changed providers. Whilst I was still living in London, I switched to Vodafone. But alas, their signal is just as bad when back in Scotland. It seems that the only reliable signal in my neck of the woods is ‘O2′ I have 2 months left on my contract which I still have to pay for even though I can’t use the phone in my village! There is an erratic signal out in the street, but it will not work indoors!


My 2nd phone is an odd ‘hand-me-down from my son. It works on the Android operating system and is unusual in that it can take 2 sim cards as well as an SD storage card up to 64gb


It is tempting to go out and get a nice shiny new phone when my contract does finally expire. But then I have to decide. At 70yo. Do I really need all the ‘bells & whistles’ available? Which will once more, set me back about £35-£45 per month for the next 2 years. Or do I go for the alternative? A sim only contract which works out at about £8 per month. Using one of the phones that I already own.


Created By on 11/04/2015

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ShirleyAnne
11th Aug 2015 18:31:33
0
Thanks for voting!
I am delighted with my iPhone 6 on provider 3. The signal can be a bit dodgy in places, but with the 3 inTouch app, calls and messages can be sent and received over a wifi connection! Let's face it, no one if far from a free wifi connection with BT.
Response from Marley444 made on 16th Aug 2015 08:08:10
Now you've worried me MrFred .. I thought using WhatsApp abroad was totally free of charge if you used it via free wifi? Am I correct?
Alan247
4th Sep 2016 00:52:11
0
Thanks for voting!
I have a phone I got from Tesco, makes and receives txt and calls only. On a sim only plan £ 4.99 per month, just looked in the Call Log, last call I made was 2 weeks ago, phoned my Daughter, it was her birthday
SteveB2
4th Sep 2016 00:40:08
0
Thanks for voting!
I have an iPhone 6+ connected to O2. The phone is brilliant. I have 4712 photos stored on there and I use it for Facebook, Twitter, banking, travel, news, weather, shopping and more and I can make and receive calls on it as well. I would miss it terribly if I didn't have it.
georgesmum
6th Aug 2016 22:37:42
0
Thanks for voting!
I admit it....I'm a technophobe.....OK I have a new iPad Air, but mobile phones leave me cold! I'm the one who forgets to switch it on or the one who never answers it in time because I forgot where I put it. I think my phone is a smart phone....well it's certainly smarter than me anyway!
I suppose in this day and age I should be embarrassed at my lack of understanding of the damn things...and I do "text" regularly but if it dares to ring I jump out of my skin!
I'm very practical in other ways....but stick a mobile in my hand and I become a jibbering wreck.
Alan247
6th Aug 2016 21:40:41
0
Thanks for voting!
My phone makes calls and, does texts. I have no need for a smartphone
steve263
16th Jul 2016 08:19:40
0
Thanks for voting!
I use a 'smart phone' and have just changed to a Sony Experia M5 with Virgin mobile. I have been with Virgin for years as I have the TV and broadband with them. The Experia has one of the best cameras I have seen at 21 mpx, with a 13 mpx 'selfie'. I used quite a few of the apps such as banking and of course Facebook etc quite regularly. Only one downside I have found, and that is the need to use a third party app to block calls and texts.
Mike Brightman
20th Nov 2015 15:39:27
0
Thanks for voting!
Vodafone is great provider I am able to gain a signal abroad when others in the family fail. I do not get on with smart phones. Had one for a week and that was 8 days too long. Retreated to a Doro with radio etc - just great. I can even see all the numbers and letters without my glasses.
Like all things depends on what you want from a phone/iphone etc I want simple and not a 101 uses - 99 of which I will hardly ever, if ever, use.
I use twitter via my trusty laptop and take pics on my camera then transfer via laptop to my twitter account. Only used latter since early in year and have found it far more interesting than I would have imagined = another debate!
(Twitter account - @MikeBrightman - great to hear from you anytime)
Goldfynche Original Poster
17th Oct 2015 13:26:53
0
Thanks for voting!
I've got a Moto G now, as well. It took me absolutely ages to get to grips with answering the phone. When all it took was a simple swipe to the right, on the phone symbol.
I had a Samsung Galaxy previously but just couldn't get an with it, so went back to the iPhone for a while.
sandybanks
17th Oct 2015 09:41:42
0
Thanks for voting!
I am a new owner of a Moto G ,for the first two weeks, I tried to ignore its existence ,so foreign was it to me,
I now after many hours playing, with the monster , am nearly there , (fingers crossed)
But yesterday still found my self, stairing at an incoming call ,shouting what do I press !!
Wilf
27th Jul 2015 12:08:47 (Last activity: 4th Aug 2015 10:09:07)
0
Thanks for voting!
The new iphone 6 is excellent-the camera is amazing
Response from Marley444 made on 27th Jul 2015 12:13:01
I only have a iPone 5 and I am very happy with 🙂
Response from Wilf made on 3rd Aug 2015 23:09:48
I am the same I only have an iphone 5. Why have 2 phones it gets very confusing???
Response from Pete H made on 4th Aug 2015 10:09:07
I've stuck to an iphone 5 which has lasted me good two and a half years. The apple stuff seems to last really well - my old iPhone 4 saw over 4 years of hard service and I still sold it on eBay for £50!

At the end of my contract I couldn't see any reason to upgrade so kept my phone and went for a sim only deal costing me a third of my original monthly price. The phone is still as good a new and the operating system is the latest upgrade. Win win.

I use the phone pretty extensively - music, email, text, gps even tv occasionally - it does make life easier but am conscious about not staring at it too much especially in company!!
suffolknan
20th Apr 2015 22:39:55 (Last activity: 27th Jul 2015 12:04:44)
1
Thanks for voting!
Hi
I have been through a few mobiles and currently have a Samsung android.
I had the same phone for a few years, initially just for emergencies, but as I used it more I wanted something I could swipe (because of problems hitting little buttons). My son-in-law gave me his "old" phone to try, which was great. I was ok with the iphone for a couple of years but was having vodafone issues when I moved and was also using the mobile more than the landline, so I decided to change and find a better tariff. In the end the best deal I found was with Tesco Mobile £10 pcm) and it came with a free phone. When comparing the 2 phones I decided I like the calendar on the Samsung better so handed the iphone to my daughter in law! We do quite a bit of equipment swapping as some of the family like to get all the updates quite soon after they come out.
I don't use the many features very much - mostly I phone and text and use the planner, but I keep shopping lists too.
Recently I have started taking brief notes at talks and meetings. I have had a few tuts and grumbles (even though I do it quietly) because some folk think it is rude and I am not paying attention... so I often issue an apology and say what I am doing. Useful for things to look up later e.g. plants, persons and other references.
I also like the fact that I can switch on all sorts of things while I am out if I need to e.g. maps/directions.
I am trying to cut down on stuff which I carry in my handbag, so the phone is good in that it also replaces my diary.
Response from Wilf made on 27th Jul 2015 11:46:13
I have had apple phones for some years but like the new bigger screen Samsungs. Travelling in China last year most people there seem to have the bigger screens
Response from Wilf made on 27th Jul 2015 11:50:56
My wife had Blackberrys but has now also gone over to the iphones as its easier to use
Response from Wilf made on 27th Jul 2015 12:04:44
Yes I tried it last week it was very good. I do not really get the whole Seri part of the phone though
Wilf
27th Jul 2015 11:45:14
0
Thanks for voting!
The new smartphones are amazing. I spoke to my daughter yesterday on the Apple 6 on the Face Time and it was amazing. Just like Skype!

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