# Anyone here still not have a smartphone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428 "2025-02-17T19:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/181 "2026-06-18T00:27:17Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > Is it this phone number? > > [Transportation Options for Seniors Near Me | 1-833-USE-UBER](https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/call-to-ride/) Yes, that’s the one! I had already set up my Uber account the normal way, but I’d have to get on someone’s WiFi network to hail a ride if I weren’t at home. Being able to call them saves me that hassle. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/182 "2026-06-18T01:53:32Z")
Thanks, I didn’t know this was an option with Uber until your post. This could be useful. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/183 "2026-06-18T13:51:01Z")
If you use Uber on your phone, it geocodes the location of your phone and knows right where you are. Maybe you are at an airport, perhaps a park or restaurant. There is no need to give address info. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/184 "2026-06-18T14:18:10Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This type of driving is good as a stop gap between jobs or if you have a month or two with lower hours than normal but it’s not a career for this exact reason I think we’re mostly in agreement. However, by doing that one is either using their asset more while simultaneously deferring maintenance in hopes their situation will be better before the piper comes for payment or properly accruing but then not getting paid much where that time might be better used either job hunting or working on skills to improve your position for a new job. I’ve been unemployed before, it sucks & you can’t search for a new job 50 hours a day otherwise you’ll go nuts, so maybe it’s not so bad but in that case it’s like an entry level fast food job with lots of turnover. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/185 "2026-06-18T14:26:00Z")
For something a little different, my friends Rob and Matt were a couple for over 30 years. Rob was able to retire earlier than Matt and had a pension. Rob loved being around people and having animated conversations. Matt worked with people all day and just wanted peace and quiet when he got home. Rob was cooped up all day and when Matt got home Rob drove him bonkers. Eventually Rob drove Uber during the day which got him out of the house and talking to people while he drove them around. He was way less animated when Matt got home and it worked great for them. It was worth the wear and tear on the car. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/186 "2026-06-18T18:25:00Z")
You could buy a _brand new_ [Commodore Callback 8020](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/06/commodores-newest-gadget-is-a-flip-phone-that-blocks-social-media-and-browsers/) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/187 "2026-06-19T04:13:19Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > If you use Uber on your phone, it geocodes the location of your phone and knows right where you are. Maybe you are at an airport, perhaps a park or restaurant. There is no need to give address info. I don’t have a data plan. It only makes phone calls, unless it can connect to a WiFI network. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/188 "2026-06-22T08:46:12Z")
When I was growing up, there was a constant struggle between parents and teenagers concerning how long the teenagers could tie up the family phone. I knew some families that had a second line for their kids. With smart phones, my two teenagers have free communication (while they are connected to wifi) with their friends. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/189 "2026-06-22T19:45:54Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > When I was growing up, there was a constant struggle between parents and teenagers concerning how long the teenagers could tie up the family phone. We had one phone on a party line. Four differnent households. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428/190 "2026-07-29T03:20:30Z")
I do not have a smartphone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-still-not-have-a-smartphone/1014428.md?page=9)