Let's look at their advantages and disadvantages first....
Advantages:
- They are multifunctional- for personal & business use (phone, email, internet, texting, etc.)
- You can access information as you would a PC or laptop but from anywhere you are. It's like having a mini-computer in the palm of your hand.
- You can communicate instantly all over the world via phone, text messaging, email, and even VoIP like Skype, etc.
- You don't have to carry around several devices anymore (like phone, mp3 player, camera, etc.)
- They have a much better web browsing capability than regular cellphones- now you can surf the net on any website whereas before it was very limited.
- You can consolidate your phone contacts, email contacts, social and professional networking databases, etc. for each person.
Disadvantages:
- Mobile devices can easily be stolen. You have a high risk of losing your personal information all in one device. (Some safety measures are to password protect your phone as well as use the secured backup service by the phone provider)
- They have applications that reach into personal & possibly financial data stored on phones (such as your contact lists, website passwords, etc.).
- They are more expensive with data plans than before.
- They can be much more complicated with the more enhanced technology. These are not simple to use. They are also bigger and a bit heavier than regular cellphones.
- They are less personal. They make it very easy to avoid phone calls, only text people instead of talk to them, and handle all of your daily errands online instead of physically going.
