OT: recession snags smartphone makers, in an unexpected way…

[briansd1]

[quote=CBad]I had to give my nephew and his 2 friends/coworkers a ride home from work last night because the friend’s car broke down. As I’m driving these kids home (2 are age 18, 1 is 19) I realize they make about $8/hr., only 1 out of 3 has a car, but between the 3 of them they have a new iphone, a droid, and a blackberry.[/quote]

I’ve been accused of not understanding the nesting desires of homebuyers because I’m not married.

But I do know the phone habits of young people.

Without a smart phone you’re a loser.

My nieces of 11 and 8 have iPhones so that they can listen to music, call and text on one device. If you buy your child an MP3 player and and cell phone, it’ll cost you the same. So why not get a smart phone?

For those of you with teenage and college age children, if you want want to keep in touch with them, you need to learn texting. Otherwise, as they move away, you will drift apart.

Young people don’t call anymore — it’s actually considered rude to call unless you text in advance asking for permission. Talking on the phone requires a dedicated block of time whereas you can respond to a text whenever. Calling is now considered barging in on people’s private time.

[UCGal]

My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.

[UCGal]

My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.

[UCGal]

My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.

[UCGal]

My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.

[UCGal]

My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.

[UCGal]

[quote=flu][quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.[/quote]

Trust me – he’s heard that… He’s also heard that even if he saves for an i-phone, he needs the $$ for the service. (Same goes for his future car – needs to contribute towards gas/insurance/etc.)

He knows our stance – he’ll get “use” of a phone when and only when it makes it more convenient for us – the parents and bill payers… He only has one classmate with a phone (not a smart phone)… She uses it to call her dad when school’s out to find out if he’s picking her up right then, or if she should go to the library (across the street) to wait for him. That’s a situation where it’s for the convenience of the parent – and makes sense.

[UCGal]

[quote=flu][quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.[/quote]

Trust me – he’s heard that… He’s also heard that even if he saves for an i-phone, he needs the $$ for the service. (Same goes for his future car – needs to contribute towards gas/insurance/etc.)

He knows our stance – he’ll get “use” of a phone when and only when it makes it more convenient for us – the parents and bill payers… He only has one classmate with a phone (not a smart phone)… She uses it to call her dad when school’s out to find out if he’s picking her up right then, or if she should go to the library (across the street) to wait for him. That’s a situation where it’s for the convenience of the parent – and makes sense.

[UCGal]

[quote=flu][quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.[/quote]

Trust me – he’s heard that… He’s also heard that even if he saves for an i-phone, he needs the $$ for the service. (Same goes for his future car – needs to contribute towards gas/insurance/etc.)

He knows our stance – he’ll get “use” of a phone when and only when it makes it more convenient for us – the parents and bill payers… He only has one classmate with a phone (not a smart phone)… She uses it to call her dad when school’s out to find out if he’s picking her up right then, or if she should go to the library (across the street) to wait for him. That’s a situation where it’s for the convenience of the parent – and makes sense.

[UCGal]

[quote=flu][quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.[/quote]

Trust me – he’s heard that… He’s also heard that even if he saves for an i-phone, he needs the $$ for the service. (Same goes for his future car – needs to contribute towards gas/insurance/etc.)

He knows our stance – he’ll get “use” of a phone when and only when it makes it more convenient for us – the parents and bill payers… He only has one classmate with a phone (not a smart phone)… She uses it to call her dad when school’s out to find out if he’s picking her up right then, or if she should go to the library (across the street) to wait for him. That’s a situation where it’s for the convenience of the parent – and makes sense.

[Author]

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