What is the true importance of smartphones in our daily life? The evolution of smartphone technology revolutionized communication, introducing SMS, text messages, calls, video chat, and instant connectivity with people worldwide through applications. These compact devices easily fit into your pocket or bag, providing convenience without weighing you down. People seeking free smartphones or a lifeline program phone often wonder how they might end up using the device to enhance their day-to-day activities. The answer is that there’s almost no end to the way your life will be changed, for the better, when you own a smartphone.
A Short Look Back at the Origin of Smartphones
Since IBM offered the first smartphone in 1994, at a cost of nearly onethousand dollars, the technology has become more powerful, miniaturized, and more efficient. Those early phones were only able to send and receive email, make simple calls, send faxes, and do a few other, very limited functions.
Today, cellular phones do it all. Not only can you send texts, emails, and make calls, you have access to a full menu of computer capabilities as well. In other words, anything you can do on a computer, you can perform on a smartphone. Plus, costs have come down so much that a standard device now is within reach of most consumers.
Free smartphones are a new development that means anyone who wants one of these powerful devices can get one. That’s good news for consumers who sign up to get a lifeline program phone. For no cost at all, you get all the benefits of owning your own high-tech communications device that is at the center of modern social and business life.
Why are Phones Important?
Mobile phones have really stepped up our convenience game, right? Now, keeping in touch with our loved ones and getting important info on the go is a breeze. And it’s not just about calls anymore! We can shoot off texts, emails, and even hop online whenever we need to.
No list can offer a comprehensive roster of all conceivable uses for a smartphone. But there are many key ways that most people use their devices to stay connected to others, access entertainment resources, stay safe, find out how to get somewhere, and more.
Here is a short summary of the most common ways consumers use their smartphones:
- Location Assistance: If you need directions or want to know where you are when lost, simple apps can help you. Most location-assistance functions are either included with a standard phone or are something you can easily download and use when you need.
- Financial Transactions: Do you need to pay a bill or receive money via one of the many online pay sites? Use your phone and complete the transaction in a few minutes. You can even check bank balances, move money from one account to another, and pay your taxes on your smartphone.
- News Sources: Want to know the latest in sports, news, weather, or any other current event? A smartphone is the fastest, most efficient way to find out no matter where you are. That’s because the phone is actually a small computer with an internet connection.
- Social Life Enhancer: If you like to keep up with what your friends are doing and saying, social media apps on your phone will keep you in touch 24/7.
- Shopping Tool: One of the newest ways that phones have become an essential part of life is as a shopping tool. You can browse, shop, compare prices, and buy just about anything you need.
- Library: There’s no need to carry books with you because you can store e-books in your smartphone or read any number of free books online. Every smartphone is a virtual library.
- Photography Tool: You can use a phone to take a picture of anything, whether it’s a beautiful nature scene or a car wreck you need to validate for your insurance company.
- Buying Tickets and Booking Travel: Whatever the event or trip, you can purchase tickets and book hotels, get rental cars, and reserve a place at your favorite restaurant on your smartphone.
- Security Device: You can call the police, alert friends of your whereabouts, record audio of whatever is going on around you, or set off a very loud audio alarm with your smartphone.
The Importance of Protecting Your Phone
It’s obvious that today’s phones are extremely valuable resources in lots of different ways. That means it’s essential to protect them from damage at all times, make sure they’re not stolen or lost, and try to protect them from day-to-day bumps and bruises. Here’s a shortlist of things you can do to protect your valuable asset:
- Get a cover: Many stores sell protective covers for smartphones that shield them from breaking when you drop them on concrete or any hard surface. Try to find a cover that is made of thick plastic or rubbery material that offers a high degree of cushioning.
- Never drop your phone in water: When you know you’ll be around lakes, streams, bathtubs, and the like, put your phone in a safe place so it won’t become damaged by internal flooding. Nothing destroys an electronic circuit faster than moisture. If you do drop your phone in water, try to retrieve it as quickly as possible. After that, remove the battery, take the back off, and let it air dry for 24 hours.
- Don’t leave a phone in extreme temperatures: Avoid leaving your smartphone in the car while you shop. Not only is this an invitation for thieves, but it can expose the device to very high or low temperatures. Smartphones don’t do well in high heat or below-freezing temperatures, so always make sure they are either on your person or in a place that you know is climate-controlled.
- Don’t use incorrect batteries: Only use the type of batteries that are recommended by the phone’s manufacturer. Some people try to “freelance” and use other types of batteries that might fit but can do damage to your smartphone. Always follow the guidelines in the service manual that comes with your phone.
Simple Technology Is the Future
As technology continues to advance with more complex apps for phones and smaller circuitry, smartphones are becoming more powerful and more convenient with each passing year. Anyone who remembers early cell phones probably laughs at how big they used to be. They were more like walkie-talkies or giant radios than phones. Who knows what we’ll be doing with our phones for ten years from now? It’s safe to say that within a decade, smartphones will probably be a lot smaller and will be even more indispensable for daily life.
