Are cell phones still a luxury and not a necessity?

I think a smartphone (with texting, but data optional) and broadband internet have become a must.

*Cable/sat TV are increasingly becoming irrelevant other than for sports.

*Data plans are optional to me because there is WiFi everywhere I go. Rarely do I need to look up something critical online where I don't have WiFi already.

 

It's a necessity; but only because phone booths are near extinct. More fascinatingly, it's saved the third world because they really, truly were never going to even try to build comprehensive telecommunications or land line infrastructure. Contrastingly, though, I can't think I've dealt with a worse group of service and retail personnel than during my last battery-turned-phone replacement.

 

Cell phones to make phone calls are always gonna be a necessity. But phones that have all these data packages, and browser capabilities are items of luxury...

 

technology is always developing. 20 years ago the thought of a cell phone was ludicrous, my dad had one, he told me it was in a briefcase he kept in his trunk and cost 1000s.

Next year google glass comes out, who would've thunk of that a decade ago?

I imagine some sort of wearable tech ala google glass will incorporate a phone and we will lose handsets at some point.

 

I was stuck with a non smart phone for a 2 week period this summer and I felt like a superhero that lost his powers. I don't even use data or apps that much, but being able to read or listen to whatever I want in my moments of downtime has certainly felt like it transitioned from luxury to necessity. Sitting and looking around is not an option anymore.

 

i'm still on a dumb phone. i would love a smartphone but i can't justify the cost.

 

Iphone 5 is a necessity. Whenever I decide on having kids I will make sure they have the latest cell phone from an early age. This is in order for them to build great self confidence and become a future leader/CEO.

 

It's like an old general fighting World War I, when twenty years earlier you just needed cannonballs and extra horses.

 

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb&hl=en

 

You being bored without it doesn't make it a necessity.

 

Many things are not neccessities (e.g. Air conditioning, refrigeration, internet access at home, owning a car, etc.) but it really doesn't make sense to go through life without them in a first world nation.

 

I do so many things on my smartphone it makes me hesitate in buying a laptop/pc, unless I go back to school.

 

Cell phones looked like this 20 years ago

 

Cell phone is a business necessity to me... internet as well.

 

I think there's two levels of necessity here. In the strict sense, the necessities of life don't change -- food, shelter, clothing, air. But, in the context of out society, I'd say anything is a necessity if the lack of it indicates poverty, with perhaps a poverty being any lack that we'd want to form a charity or government program to provide for. Not having a fridge, or running water, or AC in Houston is a poverty. I think a phone is in there, but maybe not a cell phone, and certainly not a smartphone.

 

You can fit a TV, internet, phone, and GPS service all onto a cell phone. Its blurring the line between necessity and luxury.

 

not bad at all. out of stock though.

 

I would really like to have a flip phone again.
The extra protection of the screen was much needed by klutzes like me

Rocket River

 

I think a fitting term is "ubiquitous". Cell phones are not "status symbol" anymore. The point IS for EVERYONE to have it.

Standard "Mobile" cell phones are becoming more necessity. Because many businesses rely on them more. And loved ones like the connectivity to each other. PHONES of ANY sort for making calls are always NECESSITY.

SMARTPHONES with the deluxe features, apps and gadgets, NOT a true necessity. Because you don't have to read Clutchfans on a phone. Or play flash games and watch TV while out in public transit.

Yeah smartphone use in third world countries is growing big. And cuz third world gon' third, it has its own issues of corruption and criminal use within it. But its provided some real financial opportunities for people there. (And yes I wish I had the foresight to invest in it before)

And as always with ANY service....its ALWAYS about the COST of it. If everyone paid just $12 for their plans then there wouldnt be any question of "necessity or not", it'd just be had