SmartPhones Versus Lesser Phones: The New Digital Divide?: Page 2 of 2

Yes, I've given her a decent phone and a generous plan for texting, but she's pretty smart and sophisticated for her thirteen years. I can imagine her marveling over Google Sky Map and juggling Facebook and even Skype when she's bored over summer vacation. But alas, she doesn't have a smartphone, primarily because I believe I've hit (and exceeded) what I really want to spend on our family's five phones. Some of her friends do have smartphones, and we have had the "different families choose to handle their discretionary spending in different ways" discussion more than once.

So we have become a divided people. There are those of us who are living the dream, toting amazing hand-held Wonder Portals that also happen to make and take phone calls. Then there those who can pretty much just talk and text. When I had my old, dumb phone and got lost, I had to pull over and get directions. Now I have my choice of several navigation tools. When I need a pithy line at a party, I can excuse myself to the bathroom and come back loaded for conversational bear, compliments of a quick trip to the web via the Droid. And when my father-in-law and I ponder how to replace the busted belt on the ancient lawn tractor at camp, I whip out the Droid and look it up. Meanwhile my daughter can text her friends that Dad is showing off again.

Technical evolution being what it is, eventually all phones will be smart and all plans will likely include data capabilities. Hopefully prices will come down enough where more people can benefit from the amazing capabilities of these little gems.