[Villages PL]

I talked to a caller for close to 2 &1/2 hours long distance. At the end, she said not to worry because the call didn't cost her anything. Is this one of the features of having a smart phone?

She asked me to think of a question and then asked the smart phone. The smart phone then gave an answer with an automated voice. Did that really happen?

Do smart phone owners pay a price (how much?) for online service and then get unlimited "free" calls?

[tomwed]

I'l give it a shot.

You know what a computer and a flip top phone is, well, if you put them together you have a smart phone. For many households who haven't bought a computer in years, the smart phone is the most powerful computer in the house even though it is so small.

With either a smart phone or a modern computer you can talk to the computer and using built in voice recognition software from Google, it recognizes what you are saying and acts on the request. For instance, my laptop has a built in microphone as does my smart phone and I have installed the Google Now application. On my Google search screen their is a microphone symbol and when I click on it I can ask a the laptop a question.
Here's what I just asked:OK Google, where is Secaucus NJ. It found Secaucus and answered out loud "Here is a map of Secaucus". Since a smart phone is a computer it will work the same way.


Someone one else can explain how much wireless cell phone service costs and how much a data plan costs. You need both if you want to use the smartphone as a computer "on the road".

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by tomwed

I'l give it a shot.

You know what a computer and a flip top phone is, well, if you put them together you have a smart phone. For many households who haven't bought a computer in years, the smart phone is the most powerful computer in the house even though it is so small.

With either a smart phone or a modern computer you can talk to the computer and using built in voice recognition software from Google, it recognizes what you are saying and acts on the request. For instance, my laptop has a built in microphone as does my smart phone and I have installed the Google Now application. On my Google search screen their is a microphone symbol and when I click on it I can ask a the laptop a question.
Here's what I just asked:OK Google, where is Secaucus NJ. It found Secaucus and answered out loud "Here is a map of Secaucus". Since a smart phone is a computer it will work the same way.


Someone one else can explain how much wireless cell phone service costs and how much a data plan costs. You need both if you want to use the smartphone as a computer "on the road".

Thanks, it sounds like a great convenience.

[kansasr]

To answer your question about talking for 2.5 hours with no cost, it depends upon your cell phone plan. If you have an unlimited minutes plan, then sure, talk away. However, those plans are more expensive per month than plan that limit you to same something like 350, 500 or 1000 minutes per month. Also most plans with minute limits have unlimited minutes on weekends and after 9pm.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Thanks, it sounds like a great convenience.

It's a must have device for people like me. If I get in a conversation with others about movies, tv, sports, just about anything and I get stumped because I can't pull up what I used to know. I can ask my smartphone. It's like have your own little suppot team.

Let's say you're trying to remember the guy who starred in the Beverly Hillbillies. Something you always knew and it's on the tip of your tongue but your having a brain performance anxiety attack. You can say "OK google who starred in the Beverly Hillbillies?"

I use to hang out with younger teachers at work. They would always fill in the blanks for me, like my kids do, out of kindness. They thought it was funny that I called this "in conversation support".

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I talked to a caller for close to 2 &1/2 hours long distance. At the end, she said not to worry because the call didn't cost her anything. Is this one of the features of having a smart phone?

She asked me to think of a question and then asked the smart phone. The smart phone then gave an answer with an automated voice. Did that really happen?

Do smart phone owners pay a price (how much?) for online service and then get unlimited "free" calls?

Smartphone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by kansasr

To answer your question about talking for 2.5 hours with no cost, it depends upon your cell phone plan. If you have an unlimited minutes plan, then sure, talk away. However, those plans are more expensive per month than plan that limit you to same something like 350, 500 or 1000 minutes per month. Also most plans with minute limits have unlimited minutes on weekends and after 9pm.

This person is retired with benefits from a big telephone company. I wonder if "free" calls could be part of her retirement package.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

This person is retired with benefits from a big telephone company. I wonder if "free" calls could be part of her retirement package.

Maybe-----
You are using a computer kind of device now. You could install Skype and talk for free using what you are using now.

Since a smartphone is a computer, you can use Skype on that too.

There are many alternatives to Skype.

What matters is how are you connecting your smartphone to your network. If you are in your house and using Skype it's free. If you take your phone "on the road" it is not free.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by tomwed

It's a must have device for people like me. If I get in a conversation with others about movies, tv, sports, just about anything and I get stumped because I can't pull up what I used to know. I can ask my smartphone. It's like have your own little suppot team.

Let's say you're trying to remember the guy who starred in the Beverly Hillbillies. Something you always knew and it's on the tip of your tongue but your having a brain performance anxiety attack. You can say "OK google who starred in the Beverly Hillbillies?"

I use to hang out with younger teachers at work. They would always fill in the blanks for me, like my kids do, out of kindness. They thought it was funny that I called this "in conversation support".

I know what you mean. We had some difficulty remembering names in our conversation. Neither one of us could remember the names of well known people in the news. I wonder why she didn't ask her smart phone, did she forget that she could do that?

[Cisco Kid]

I think my smartphone is broken.

I pushed the home button and I am still at work.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid

I think my smartphone is broken.

I pushed the home button and I am still at work.

And your dog is still barking!

[tomwed]

I know I abused my smart phone getting Google help. Verizon sent me a restraining order.

[mikeandnancy1112]

I even ask Siri to tell me a phone number and she does. I also use the voice activated for texting someone if it is a long text. I may have to edit the text a little but boy, is it a convenience. I love my Iphone 5S!!