Zyaga Writing about whatever the hell I want, cuz it's the Interwebz!

Phones Aren’t For Calling People Anymore

The new(somewhat?) Samsung Exclaim proves once again that cell phones nowadays are meant for handling so much more than just calling people. To be honest, it’s almost like they went to make the device and this conversation ensued:

Employee A: Hey, why don’t we throw in the ability to call people as well while we’re at it?

Employee B: Why? Do people really still call other people in this day and age?

Employee A: They’re dying off, but can’t hurt, can it?

Employee B: …. I guess.

Now, that may be an exaggeration to a great degree, but not impossible! It’s kind of like how they always add a calculator to every phone, no matter what… It’s so easy for them to do, and even though it probably doesn’t get much use(except for teenagers in high school, maybe?), there is no real reason not to throw it in.

I know that the Samsung Exclaim wasn’t no where near one of the first phones that started creating this effect, this has been going on for quite a long time. I’ve just noticed that it is happening more and more, and the fact that I just got myself a Samsung Exclaim made me want to use it as a reference, kapeesh?

Social Networking via Phone

It seems that everything a phone does nowadays is about not using the “call” feature. Every new feature is all about Social Networking and staying connected. Examples of this can easily be seen if I simply list out some of the things the Samsung Exclaim has built-in:

1. Connect with MySpace
2. Connect with Facebook
3. Connect with Twitter
4. Three instant messengers(AIM, Yahoo, MSN)
5. E-mail and Text

Hell, it even has a Youtube menu button already there so you can start searching or seeing whats relevant without having to go to Youtube and then browse to those areas.

Media Powerhouse

Not only can you simply keep up to date via text, but phones can now do all sorts of things like take pictures, record audio, as well as record videos(with audio). Once you’re done making/taking whatever you wanted, you then have the option of forwarding it onto someone else. You can send it to their email, to their phone, or even upload it to the web for them to go browse.

All of these things are great and have their purposes, but a cell phone is becoming much less a phone and more of a Social Networking Utility Knife. I understand that phone cameras aren’t all that great, but to be honest, when you’re on the go they can be pretty damn good when you need to catch something that will be over in mere seconds, let alone give you enough time to get home, get your camera, and come back.

In the End

I’m not trying to say anything bad about these products. All I’m simply pointing out is the fact that this is where we are headed, whether that is a good thing or not. When it gets to the point that I’m asked if I would like to pay for the additional feature of being able to call people, we’ve got to call it something else, not a “phone”.