Smartphone with Android - does it 'need' internet access to work?

AbbieCadabra

...do i win daft question of the day?!

it's renewal time & i'm into the minefield of do i/don't i need a smartphone. i can't see me using it for the internet (facebook, youtube etc.) nor for emails, just calls, texts, perhaps a photo or 2 & as an diary/organiser.

quite like the option of being able to download useful apps, perhaps a sat nav type option for help on the go when our actual sat nav isn't with me - google maps already on the phone but you have to be online to use it? (if i've understood that correctly).

also, does android need constant access online for it to run? or it would be ok to turn off 3g (i could be wrong there) & just use my broadband connection at home for any updates or downloading i want to do??

thanks for any help, i really appreciate it!

nickmack

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

...do i win daft question of the day?!

it's renewal time & i'm into the minefield of do i/don't i need a smartphone. i can't see me using it for the internet (facebook, youtube etc.) nor for emails, just calls, texts, perhaps a photo or 2 & as an diary/organiser.

quite like the option of being able to download useful apps, perhaps a sat nav type option for help on the go when our actual sat nav isn't with me - google maps already on the phone but you have to be online to use it? (if i've understood that correctly).

also, does android need constant access online for it to run? or it would be ok to turn off 3g (i could be wrong there) & just use my broadband connection at home for any updates or downloading i want to do??

You can turn off Data Access, but it removes alot of intended functionality.

One of the main sells of the new generation of 'Smartphones' is having integrated access with online resources such as social networking, mail, location awareness etc and being able to provide 'real time' alerts and updates.

If you don't want/need any of this, you might be better just getting a basic phone, it would be cheaper and less chance of 'accidentally' running up a large data bill.

If you do go for an Android device, most tariffs come with a data plan anyway, so as long as you keep the syncs turned off, you shouldn't exceed the data limit through basic background updates.

This will give the opportunity to download Apps and you may find, you will actually use the device online in ways you'd never imagined.

AbbieCadabra

useful info, thank you

the main reason i was thinking of not getting any email/internet access on my new contract was the difference in price i've been quoted by the guy who normally sorts our plans out - Orange business: £30 for the standard 500 min/2 users/2000 txts/unlimited landline, but with unlimited email/internet access for me as the main user, it seems to jump up to £49 per month! i'm still waiting for him to come back to me on the price difference...

nickmack

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

Orange business: £30 for the standard 500 min/2 users/2000 txts/unlimited landline, but with unlimited email/internet access for me as the main user, it seems to jump up to £49 per month! i'm still waiting for him to come back to me on the price difference...

On personal contract, when Data Plans were mostly sold as add ons, they were between £5-£10/month extra.

Frankly, IMO anyone selling a 'Smartphone' contract should only be quoting a tariff with data included. They're really not separable with the new generation of devices.

AbbieCadabra

i've just rang orange & they've said it's £6.38 p/mth for 1GB of usage, i have no idea how the £49 i've been quoted has come about?! so for £36.38 + vat, i'd be happy to have the online access in there anyway, it's less than what we're paying at the moment & we're getting more - you don't get to say that very often!

i think i might just aswell go with orange direct on this anyway as my 'contract' man doesn't seem to be helping me much on this occasion...

edit: just checked this plan price again & i might be doing my 'man' a dis-service (oops).
orange business select 500 is £30 for 1 user plus £15 for each additional user, so if i go direct (without getting any type of retention discount, if available), it would be £45 + £6.38.
so if the £49 i've been quoted is net, then he can perhaps get a better deal for us. i'm sure all will become clear, when he bothers to reply to my email!

JJ_Egan

google maps already on the phone but you have to be online to use it?

Yes but their are other GPS with maps on the SD card you can purchase .

My Android data is turned off unless i need it . I use home WiFi for the majority of updating and update what sites i require before leaving home .

Problem with Smartphones and their always on is that they are not actually smart who wants to know the latest traffic when you are fast asleep .

jje