Opinion
How To & Why Buy A Smartphone
By Matt Mernagh at 12:00 pm on Friday, August 20, 2010 // 2 Comments
Imagine our shock when a friend of ours told us he was shopping for a cellphone on a Friday night and not a smartphone!
“Just a cellphone? Are you crazy!” We mocked. Then we decided we had to do a whole article dedicated to mobile devices. In 2000, businesses needed a website, now a decade later you need a mobile enabled website.
A smartphone and mobile enabled website are a must these days. My smartphone is nearly as powerful the laptop I do most of my day-to-day work on. Using just my BlackBerry I can write a blog entry, post a video or snap photos and post all of it immediately to one of my sites. Once the entry is created, I do a social media push via Twitter, FaceBook and Tumblr. The mobile possibilities are endless.
This isn’t brand specific to BlackBerry. In fact I suspect the Iphone is better at it. Almost all brands of smart phones offer the ability to update your sites on the road. Now there’s no need to haul your laptop to the coffee shop to do a blog site development session. Just bring your smartphone.
Your website must have a mobile design. When a customer views your site from their phone they should get a mobile branded site suitable for their smartphone browsers. Sites that do not have a specific smartphone layout will lose business.
These were some reasons we cited why our colleague should buy a smartphone.
“I can’t afford a smartphone.” He wept.
“You can’t afford not to have one.” We encouraged.
A smartphone generates sales leads, impresses the opposite or same sex and most importantly takes up time when you’re riding TTC street car. The City of Toronto intends to make the subway smartphone accessible next year. Thus you’ll no longer have to wait until Rosedale station (or other stations that are above ground) to send your lover “home in X minutes” texts.
Besides to afford your new smartphone monthly bill you’re going to have invest in a transit pass. Some plans are brutally expensive. With low upfront costs. Like six months discounted.
To relearn how to purchase a smartphone I went to the mall this weekend to talk to all the places offering them. Like me, you’re probably already attached to a phone, internet, cable brand. Obviously it makes the most sense to simply add to your brand’s package. I’m on the Bell network. Many friends choose Rogers. No one I know is on Telus. I’ve heard a few good things about Wind Mobile and the Koodoo wrestlers is awesome.
Marketing might have you believe otherwise, but most of the company’s are offering the same services with little variable in pricing.
It’s only the introductory prices that they promote!
Plans come with great commitment. Three years. Remember most relationships don’t last that long! Purchase wisely. What you’re looking for is, can you afford the monthly bill. Basic smartphone packages are as low as $50.
Our suggestion to our Cellphone Friend.
Go with a plan. Get a free smartphone. On their own smartphones are explicit expensive. Especially if you buy from mall stores. If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone then go with unlocked used. Find these shops on Yonge St. This was the suggestion from the Koodoo customer service rep. Who, after amazingly explaining their services, went one step further to offer suggestions on how to upgrade my phone on the Bell network. I’m not Koodoo’s target customer base. A person who isn’t loyal or locked in with one of the big cellphone providers.
There are too many options available to our friend for him not to own a smart phone. He needs a smartphone. Hopefully this article, not just dedicated to how to buy smartphone, but to him, will convince Mike he needs a smartphone.
