Could you work without a smartphone?

[Retroelectric]

Hi all.
Not sure this is the right place to post so will move / delete if needed.
Just wondering if anyone could go back to working with just a standard mobile phone and text messages?
Obviously smartphones can be very useful and I would miss the camera, but just wondering if I could go back to life without one and check whatever needed checking when I got back on my laptop as I used to.
Whats everyone think?
Impossible nowadays?

Obviously I will keep an eye for any replies on my iphone!!!

 

[westward10]

If that is the worst that will happen to me in my life I would gladly "suffer" it.

 

[freddo]

Unfortunately everything seems to need the installation manual downloading from the internet, or setting up via an app, so it would likely be difficult. I used a digital camera for years even when out work phones started having cameras built in as early models were not good, lacked a flash etc.

My personal mobile phone is 20 years old and does all I need it to.

The phone and data signals are so poor here most of the time my work smart phone is useless anyway, getting fed up of walking ages to try to get a signal to make a call, and mobile internet is a joke. I spent Saturday working in a factory, had to keep going up to roof level to make calls to someone programming remotely, then going back down to check at the equipment. The supplier hasn't enabled wifi calling on our work phones so I can't use my 4g wifi router to make calls. I have it in the van to get internet from another mobile provider, essential for setting some things up.

 

[westward10]

It is the way of the world but progress is progress. Telex machines, fax machines all past redundant technology which I'm sure will eventually include smart phones.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I would love technology to back pedal... preferably by around 100 years.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Why o why do Peaple spend thousands of pounds on mobile phones when you can get two empty tins and a bob of string.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I look forward to being able io implant my sim card directly into my brain so that I no longer need to physically carry a phone

 

[ferg]

I'm not sure I would want to go back to not having one TBH.
I fill out certs on mine, use it as a satnav when plugged in to the van, play music through it, invoicing software on it for little jobs, camera, order parts online, banking app, downloading manuals, wifi calling when out of signal and most importantly browsing the forum at lunchtime

 

[Mike Johnson]

I'm not sure I would want to go back to not having one TBH.
I fill out certs on mine, use it as a satnav when plugged in to the van, play music through it, invoicing software on it for little jobs, camera, order parts online, banking app, downloading manuals, wifi calling when out of signal and most importantly browsing the forum at lunchtime

And how much does that cost per month/year?

 

[ferg]

And how much does that cost per month/year?

The phone was about £200
My contract is about £12 a month
Mobile add on for cert software £50 ish / year

All in all I think it's worth it.

 

[ipf]

To think, we used to get by with a van and toolbox.

In an emergency, it was find a land line or phone box.........and, in many cases, it was still quicker getting the blue lights to site than it is today.

 

[nicebutdim]

I use a phone as necessary and find most smartphone activity to be superfluous. I also refuse to be beholden to one and answer calls or messages when it's convenient to do so - if someone wants an instant response every time they whistle, then I ain't the man they're looking for.

Initially I got one a smartfone to save running back and forth checking emails, then found a few useful aps, but would quite happily do without one. Older style of mobile would fulfill the vast majority of my requirements and probably make for a better quality of life.

Most of you are at least as old as me, so remember the time when phone calls meant something. They involved going to the coldest part of your home or shuffling off to a phonebox/neighbours house and reasonable expense - mostly calls were made for good reason and answered because they usually provided information of some importance. If making plans, whether for a night out or lifts to work, you got a time and made sure you were ready to go. Anyone who wasn't where they ought to be at the designated time either went home or missed out on a day's pay/night out. Now it's call, message, email ad nauseam with the expectation that everyone should jump to attention, ready to do whatever they're bid. A lot of people have lost their sense of perspective with regard to what is, and what isn't, of real importance and much of that is directly related to everyone having a damned smartphone in their pocket.

It's not technology I have an issue with, but people's attitude towards it.

 

[ipf]

I use a phone as necessary and find most smartphone activity to be superfluous. I also refuse to be beholden to one and answer calls or messages when it's convenient to do so - if someone wants an instant response every time they whistle, then I ain't the man they're looking for.

It's not technology I have an issue with, but people's attitude towards it.

Agree.
But, then again, with loads of family hospital problems, iphones, etc, have proved to be a bit of a useful necessity over the last couple or years.

 

[Mike Johnson]

About the only thing my iPhone is used for is downloading the status of my Aico alarms and sending to the report software on my laptop, total cost per year is between £10 and £12 not a miss type that is per year.

 

[littlespark]

Much like the rest of you, I started working life without a phone.
The only piece of technology in the van was a cassette deck on the radio… and the only apprentice distraction was bringing in the Daily Sport for “reading the interesting articles”

Even with just a crossword in the paper, we could still stretch out a 10 minute break to half an hour…. And a half hour lunch to 90 minutes.


I also agree we can’t do without one now. For the reasons already mentioned… but satnav, when you can’t find the house you’re looking for…. Online crosswords…. So you don’t have to buy a newspaper… (add that up over 5 days a week, 40+ weeks of the year… it’s a money saver)…… Clarification of jobs… certain details might need changed before doing something which could be costly if wrong

 

[Dustydazzler]

To think, we used to get by with a van and toolbox.

In an emergency, it was find a land line or phone box.........and, in many cases, it was still quicker getting the blue lights to site than it is today.

a pre paid Phone card was an essential bit of kit back in the day incase you didn't have any change on you

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I have a dumb phone, and have never owned a smart phone. While I can see some advantages to having a smart phone, there are downsides too, and for me personally these outweigh the upsides.

 

[DPG]

Where do you stop though? OK, don't have a smart phone - just have a mobile phone. But why have a mobile phone at all - just have a wired home phone. But then why not go back to writing letters. Stone tablets??? Steam cars??

Just embrace technology, but don't let it rule you. I've got a decent Samsung S series smartphone, bought second hand (£130 2 years ago) and a £7 per month SIM. I can take photos, browse the web, use Google maps, book tickets, report issues. Anything a £1000 phone can to be honest. But if I don't want to be disturbed then it just goes on silent. Easy.

 

[baldelectrician]

I have a Googoe Pixel 6 Pro - my old phone was 6 years old and playing up

However, I have a different operating system - Graphene OS on my new Google phone and it is much better
It loads quicker and does not let Google track and send lots of data (for techies the Google stuff operates in a sandbox and this restricts Google Play)

It also records calls if I want (by pressing a button on the call screen), something Google Andriod used to do but tries now to prohibit

My contract is a 30 day rolling one, which is £10 per month

More info

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

grapheneos.org

 

[Dustydazzler]

Technology is now a necessary evil in 99% of peoples lives today. Pandoras box has been opened and just wait till AI takes fully hold. Will make todays Tech look like a black board

 

[OnlQQker]

I did away with mobile phones over 2 years ago.

At first it does feel a bit strange, more so because people can't reach you with annoying texts like, 'can you put the dinner on as I'm going to be late' or 'my mum is coming over tonight, please try and be nice'

Customers can't ring and ask where you are when you're sat in Tesco cafe having a full breakfast, and it no longer can ring when I'm at the top of a ladder and I forget to hold on as I fumble for the phone!

It caused trouble when I first stopped using it as everyone wanted me to keep it, but once you get through that barrier it's a kind of a peace I just can't put into words!

 

[DefyG]

Of course you or anyone could, they don’t run cables or terminate equipment but do make communication or accessing product details as and when needed etc. much easier.

 

[littlespark]

Just as this thread started, Macdonalds has a new tv advert showing a guy in an office “stuck in the past” with corded phone, green monochrome crt computer screen and crocket and tubbs suit.


Accept technology for the good it can do… don’t let it rule your life…. And don’t blame it for every negative headline in the news.

The human race has always been a violent, nasty place to live…. Well before the internet or horror films came to be.

 

[nicebutdim]

Just embrace technology, but don't let it rule you. I've got a decent Samsung S series smartphone, bought second hand (£130 2 years ago) and a £7 per month SIM. I can take photos, browse the web, use Google maps, book tickets, report issues. Anything a £1000 phone can to be honest. But if I don't want to be disturbed then it just goes on silent. Easy.

That's how I do it - top of the range, but a couple of models back, costs around £100 a time and Tesco sim only deal at reasonable rate.

I don't understand the mentality of so many people who rush out and drop £1500 every time a new model is released. I really don't understand people who are permanently glued to their phone or who drop everything to grab it when it makes a noise.

 

[Mikegh]

I don't have any social media apps and sometimes disable the browser app for long periods

That leaves the phone as essential use only

 

[brianmoooore]

Wife and I have a smart phone each, both freebee cast offs from different 20+ year old offspring, and both paying £6 a month to run them.
Just had my annual 'report' from my provider. 42 texts and 53 minutes of voice for the whole year!

 

[nicebutdim]

I don't mind text messages, but more than one and it should be a 30 second phone call.

 

[timhoward]

I do find it very convenient being able to often say "please text me your address".
But I think the key is not being a slave to it.
A wonderful scene in "A touch of Frost" comes to mind. He had three trays, "In", "Out", and "LBW".
LBW stood for 'let the b*ggers wait". I'm quite happy not to be talking to some people haggling about the price to change the plug on a washing machine while I'm earning decent money on an "it takes as long as it takes" job.

 

[brianmoooore]

42 texts and 53 minutes of voice for the whole year!

Missus, on the other hand, clocked up just shy of 3000 minutes of yakking and 450 texts.

 

[baldelectrician]

I do find it very convenient being able to often say "please text me your address".
But I think the key is not being a slave to it.
A wonderful scene in "A touch of Frost" comes to mind. He had three trays, "In", "Out", and "LBW".
LBW stood for 'let the b*ggers wait". I'm quite happy not to be talking to some people haggling about the price to change the plug on a washing machine while I'm earning decent money on an "it takes as long as it takes" job.

I guard my mobile number quite close- my friends, family and very regular customers have it.

Others are given the business number which informs people that calls are recorded etc., these calls are also logged it comes in handy

For example one agent had a tenant trying it on (needed to top up meter - wanted agent to send an electricain in- no addtional needs present)
Tenant was informed if I went and it was not the landlords fault he may be charged for the visit, then had the brass neck to tell the agent he informed me that he would not be paying any costs and I had agreed.
Agent then says- Stewart records the calls, I will ask him

To sum up- agent covered, tenant put in place and money saved for landlord. Agent happy

 

[pc1966]

Could I? Yes, and in some sites it is simply not allowed.
Would I? No, it is just too handy for camera, last-resort internet access, and satnav features.

 

[Marvo]

I have a cellphone that's about 8 years old. The battery doesn't last a full day anymore which suits me fine. I was so excited when I first got it, I thought it would help me manage my time better but it just turned out to be more of a distraction and time waster than anything else. I stopped carrying it after only a few months, started leaving it in the car then leaving it at home. It wasn't even good for pron, the damn screen is too small. I was very disappointed. The only thing I found it useful for was the camera but I went back to carrying a simple digital camera which works well for what I need.

 

[DefyG]

But I think the key is not being a slave to it.

Exactly, don’t be afraid to turn it to silent or even off if you need to concentrate.

 

[ipf]

a pre paid Phone card was an essential bit of kit back in the day incase you didn't have any change on you

Long before Phone cards. 4d cost.
999 calls free, anyway, or you could reverse the charges via the operator for normal calls.

 

[OnlQQker]

Long before Phone cards. 4d cost.
999 calls free, anyway, or you could reverse the charges via the operator for normal calls.

I remember making reverse charges, I'd hear my mum sounding mad as she spoke to the operator to except the charge!

It got to the point where she'd say 'no' to the operator, and the operator would come back and say, 'you're reverse charge has been denied' then I'd ask the operator to pass her on a message.

 

[Mike Johnson]

But who remembers tapping the phone to get a free call?

 

[nicebutdim]

But who remembers tapping the phone to get a free call?

But did that result in a free call? The pulses were exactly the same as if you used a dial phone, so I never bought into the free call idea - remember this was a common rumour prior to the introduction of itemised billing, so how could anyone be certain unless making all calls this way and not being charged for a single call?

 

[DPG]

But did that result in a free call? The pulses were exactly the same as if you used a dial phone, so I never bought into the free call idea - remember this was a common rumour prior to the introduction of itemised billing, so how could anyone be certain unless making all calls this way and not being charged for a single call?

Tapping the hook switch on a home telephone mimicked the pulse dialling that the dial performed. Tapping once, then twice, then three times would dial the speaking clock very easily.

This could still be done in some areas until comparatively recently, until the last of the mechanical (Strowger I think) equipment in the exchanges was ripped out.

Cost was not affected - the system couldn't differentiate between the tapping or dial pulses.

Not sure if there was a similar 'hack' which might work in call boxes though and result in free calls?

 

[timhoward]

Tapping the hook switch on a home telephone mimicked the pulse dialling that the dial performed. Tapping once, then twice, then three times would dial the speaking clock very easily.

This could still be done in some areas until comparatively recently, until the last of the mechanical (Strowger I think) equipment in the exchanges was ripped out.

Cost was not affected - the system couldn't differentiate between the tapping or dial pulses.

Not sure if there was a similar 'hack' which might work in call boxes though and result in free calls?

Spot on - but the phones in supermarkets to pickup and auto-dial a taxi could be 'confused' into making a free call if you were patient enough to play the game!

 

[Mike Johnson]

But did that result in a free call? The pulses were exactly the same as if you used a dial phone, so I never bought into the free call idea - remember this was a common rumour prior to the introduction of itemised billing, so how could anyone be certain unless making all calls this way and not being charged for a single call?

Yes from a telephone box.