Smart phones.

[Chuck]

Have finally graduated from the grandsons first semi smart phone... which he proudly gave me - after I gave him $50 for it - on the occasion of his obtaining the eye eye 5 phone thingy last year... said I could work myself into it gradually.

He realised it would take a while for me to get the hang of it.

He was right.

A week ago we, me & her, considered we had completed our apprenticeship so bought a couple of very expensive smart phones.

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus !!

At $149 each !!

Took us all week to realise that we hadn't received any calls - nor made any.

We did put the old Sim cards into the new phones.

We did charge the batteries.

We did work out how to turn them on... although I must admit that I'd lost the art of turning - ahh, no, that's a horse of a different name I think!

Yesterday we eventually figured out what the problem was... we had decided to drop the 2 plans we were on previously, for 2 pre-paid phones.

We'd forgotten to put some money up front - the prepaid bit that is.

Fixed that small error & diminished the $$$ account by $60.

That was this morning.

But still didn't get any calls.

So I rang her.

Then she rang me.

Yep, phones work real good.

This pre-paid thingy might just catch on.

[norman]

Only way to go Chuck, Ive done the same...

[Swisslulu]

Well, if you PM your numbers we might call you...maybe. Skype is cheaper though but as I am rarely active on Skype, it could a long time between calls.

[BruceS]

We had a smart phone given to us too......... was too damn smart!!!
The grandkid loves it!
Just doesn't work......... smart phone for a dumb arsed country bumpkin!

[Greynomad]

I finally succumbed. Bought an iPhone 4 off evilbay... 'cracked screen, camera not working. $50'.
Screen cost $70 to replace. (Dropped it a week later... another $60. )
The camera problem was a hoot. Went to local Apple retailer to seek advice.
The answer? "Get onto Software Update & download the latest version of Camera." Cost: nada.
I am now on a mountainous learning curve...

[generdawg]

... we might call you...maybe. Skype is cheaper...

Emphasis on maybe

Leslie, I think you will find Viber to be more effective, but the recipient must have it loaded on their phone too. Think it's free though.

The grandkid loves it!

When purchasing smart phones for all 50++ year olds, the small print says they may not work without the grandkid app. The better the grandkid app, the more they cost.

When they make a smartphone that understands what you want just by looking at it (retina recognition as opposed to Siri) then us 50++ will be in the game. But by then we will have forgotten what we pulled the phone out of our pocket for and confuse it by starring at it.

[Swisslulu]

Brad, I know nothing about Viber but I do love my iPhone. I can't text on those phones where one has to tap on the buttons. I use the iPhone for my shopping lists, appointments etc. I rarely write anything on a piece of paper. I recently had to fill out a paper form and was appalled at how bad my handwriting (printing, actually) has become.

[generdawg]

Brad, I know nothing about Viber but I do love my iPhone.

Then you will probably love Viber. Our daughter uses it for free international calls home to mum. Pretty sure it supports real time video face to face calls, but check out the "Viber" link I've included.

Writing can be a pain sometimes, however, it also reinforces learning - see it, say it, write it six times and you've got it for life, or at least until dementia sets in. Also, I guess it's a case of use it or lose it too.

dawg

[Boblebago]

My son who is living in Vietnam put me on to Viber and when you install it, it picks up all your contacts who have it, you will be surprised how many of your contacts have it on their phones, it also lets you know when someone installs it.
Use it just like making an ordinary phone call, I even use it to call friends when my cap is maxed.

Regards Geoff

[generdawg]

...Use it just like making an ordinary phone call,

The caveat being; the quality of the call is dependent on the quality of the internet connection - but you all knew that anyway.