Are You A Smart Phone User?

While many of us are "all in" when it comes to technology, others are being pulled kicking and screaming into a world of electronic convenience and efficiency.  In the US, about half of mobile phone users still use the plain old feature phone.  But, that seems to be changing.  Nielsen recently reported that 50.4% of phone users are now smartphone users. 

The big change looks to be coming about as users turn in their old phones and find some great deals on smartphones and the affordable plans to go with them.  You will not be surpirsed to know that the young folks love their smartphones.  As recent as March of this year, surveys showed that 2 out of 3 people aged 25-34 have smartphones.  Depending on where you are, sometimes it looks like 3 out of 3!  If you are in this age group, you know that there is a lot of phone peer pressure.  Comments like, "Does that cell phone have a rotary dial on it?" will cause you to visit your nearest phone provider before the sun goes down.

One fact that may surprise you is that almost half of smartphone users are Android users (48.5%).  The iPhone is second at 32% and the Blackberry comes in 3rd at 11.6%.  I am curious to know how that varies from region to region and city to city.  It seems that Dothan is an iPhone city, but that is nothing more than my observation.  Maybe it's all the new colorful phone covers that are catching my eye.

When some people see us on the phone, I know they are thinking, "That's all they do is stare at that phone.  Why do they always have to be talking or texting?"  The truth is, most of those people have no idea that talking and texting is just one part of how we use or phone.  A good example is when I saw an elderly lady and her daughter at the doctor's office last week.  As they were checking out and setting the next appointment, the Mom complained to her daughter to "stop texting and help her".  The daughter patiently replied, "I'm not texting Mom, I am looking at my calendar to see when is a good appointment day."  Another great example is all you DothanLife smartphone users.  You are checking event info, finding the closest restaurant, posting your photos, checking the weather, connecting to deals and more!  We really appreciate you!

Check out the DothanLife facebook page and participate by telling us what "old school" item your smartphone replaces.