Mobile Phones: Slow Boat To Technology

Grandpa on cell phone. This is me without the beard & white hair. 

 

On a Slow Boat to Technology

Some facts:

• I only ‘acquired’ my first smartphone one and a half years ago.
• Before that I had a simple flip phone.
• While traveling around the world, I had NO phone at all and didn’t want one.
• I have NEVER had a data plan with any phone.
• I’ve only had a contract type plan for about 1-2 years out of the last ten.

Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not because I don’t like technology and gadgetry, I kind of love it, but more than that I’ve been taught (thanks dad and grandma!) to only buy what I need or what I love. This philosophy and ability to NOT buy into the constant drone of marketing hype is what has enabled me to currently afford to live the life I have and travel like I do.

Don’t Like Gabbing on the Phone

Another reason I’ve been a late bloomer when it comes to cell technology is I simply dislike talking on the phone.  And I’m not very good at it.  My boyfriend can’t believe how good I am at chit-chatting with strangers and new friends in person, but I’m uncomfortable and awkward on the phone.  I need facial expressions and body language. Must be my east coast roots. I just prefer face-to-face interaction. It’s probably why my social calendar is always so full.  I meet someone online through this blog or elsewhere and if they are nearby, I’m the first to say let’s go do lunch (I also happen to like lunch)! And if that’s not possible, then I’m a whiz when it comes to email and prefer it to calls since it’s so easy and fast. Then of course you’d think I like texting, right?  Wrong.  I am not a fan of typing one letter at a time when I’m actually such a fast typist and compose a much faster communiqué by email.

A Short Mobile History

More than fifteen years ago, I got my first cell (no, it wasn’t a Fischer Price), but it was a gift from my boyfriend at the time (including the plan) to have for emergencies.  I barely used it and frankly, I liked it that way.  When that relationship ended, well, so did my phone plan. I moved to Chicago with no mobile and proceeded to work for several years as a TV producer sans phone.   We had one of those klunky bag phones in our news van that I could use on the way to shoots. And later we had one for our entire department that we could take on location and since I was the only one without my own cell, I was the only one borrowing it.

Then, one year, T-mobile actually mailed me a phone and a plan to use for one year. Huzzah! My own phone for free! I still only used it sparingly and when the year was up, they must’ve forgotten about me, and therefore my free plan kept going!  It wasn’t until about two years later that the jig was up and I had to pay myself. So for a couple years I had the cheapest plan they offered.

Then I left the country to travel and I cancelled my contract and literally threw away my phone. I didn’t have a phone at all from 2006 to 2009. And I never missed it. I wasn’t going to be calling someone in the middle of Cambodia anyway and I had my laptop and could email.

When I got back to the states, I walked into my neighborhood T-mobile (I stayed loyal) and purchased a simple flip phone for about $30 and a ‘pay as you go plan.’  Since then, I’ve been using about 100 minutes a YEAR costing me only about $100…the same many pay each month!

Then just about a year ago, a wonderful reader sent me her used smart phone. I proceeded to unlock it, put my t-mobile sim card in it and continued to use it as pre-paid and only went ‘online’ where there was free wifi.

And now…I’ve been sent this sexy thing:

This is the Samsung Galaxy SIII.  It’s currently one of the world’s most popular smart phones. For once, I am running with the pack and am on the cusp on technology. And I have to admit, the phone is pretty cool. And it’s unlocked…so back in went my trusty T-mobile sim to use with me ‘pay as you go’ plan.  I can use all the apps and colorful goodness on my Galaxy SIII on wifi which is more and more prevalent these days and even more reason to not be pressured into getting a contract or a data plan.  Since I’m a lover of photography, I’ve also finally joined the masses on Instagram (find me on there at llworldtour!).

I am now part of a groundbreaking blogging & social media marketing team called Navigate Media Group. We are currently working with Samsung on this awesome #GalaxyTraveler campaign.  So stay tuned for some neat travel stories from us from all over the globe.

Disclosure: Thanks to Samsung for gifting me a Samsung Galaxy SIII.  As always the views expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views of Samsung.