Life expectancy of a cell phone?

[gardening1970]

Kitlit's eulogy to her iphone (nicely done btw) sparked my curiosity. How long should a cell phone last?

My phone died on Friday... not an iphone but a nice touch screen Samsung with slide out keyboard. It was about 18 months old. Took great pics. Easy texting. Great phone right up until it wasn't.

I usually have to replace my daughter's phone about every 18 months, but I assumed that was because it is superglued to her 16 yr old hands. My phone is not overly used, and it is well cared for - yet it still stopped working with no notice and for no apparent reason.

My first cell lasted for YEARS. Does anyone else think newer models seem less durable?

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

My iPhone 1 lasted three years before I put it through the washing machine by mistake!

 

[Will B]

Typically, the batteries go bad long before the phones. I've never had a true failure. I would bet they are few and far between.

If you were a betting conspiracy theorist one might assume that they are progammed to go bad just before your contract expires so the company can get you locked in again...

 

[sunspotbaby]

They are made to be disposable because humans, by nature, are hungry to have the latest gadget. I'm really afraid to have a computer in my pocket. My phone is used as that, a phone. I don't text. I don't fb. I don't organize or calendar anything, or get on the web through a phone at all. I dread what will be available when i need a new phone, 'cause i really don't want the rest of the crap. I'll have to get one of those "REALLY BIG NUMBER PHONES" that they market to the elderly.

 

[Beach Runner]

Knock on wood, but I have never had to replace a cell phone due to it croaking. The only reason I get new ones is because hubby and daughter are into the latest technology, so they force me to get a new one. Yes, I want the latest version of Adobe Web Premium, but phones ... that's different (although I am glad they talked me into a Blackberry ).​

 

[30ashopper]

Typically, the batteries go bad long before the phones. I've never had a true failure. I would bet they are few and far between.

If you were a betting conspiracy theorist one might assume that they are progammed to go bad just before your contract expires so the company can get you locked in again...

I think you're right, the battery is often the culprit. I've had a windows moble touch screen phone from HTC for about six years. The battery died once on me, I was able to order a new one over the internet.

My little phone has served me well, but I think I'll try out one of those new windows 7 phones next year once Sprint gets an HTC model. Hopfully it will last as long as the last one.

 

[DuneAHH]

Typically, the batteries go bad long before the phones. I've never had a true failure. I would bet they are few and far between.

If you were a betting conspiracy theorist one might assume that they are progammed to go bad just before your contract expires so the company can get you locked in again...

Never was a betting CT before... but the events of 2010 have got me seeing ninjas behind every shrub! Mr. Man o' the Houses' 2 year old cell phone cr@pped out almost to the millisecond his old contract expired. Supposedly it was that "smart chip" thingy... even the AT&T instore reps initially said so... until the said reps plugged the old chip into their little diagnostic machines and VOILA! 'discovered' the entire effin' phone was going to HAVE to be replaced.

This occurrence amazingly coincided with nationally run "WANT ads for AT&T sales reps" and major staffing beef-ups in their stores... like 10 reps available for every one customer in the 2 AT&T stores we went to on the same dead Tuesday afternoon (Destin & Pensacola).

Fancy them muffins

New smart chips = space-odyssey-style-Hals :roll:

They are made to be disposable because humans, by nature, are hungry to have the latest gadget. I'm really afraid to have a computer in my pocket. My phone is used as that, a phone. I don't text. I don't fb. I don't organize or calendar anything, or get on the web through a phone at all. I dread what will be available when i need a new phone, 'cause i really don't want the rest of the crap. I'll have to get one of those "REALLY BIG NUMBER PHONES" that they market to the elderly.

I considered getting one of those really big-button jitterbugs for the elderly (cuz I AM :roll. I have no need or desire to be 'connected' all the daggum time. My 6 year old cell phone is for me & my calling-out use only, in my car, on the side of the road in case of emergency. After Mr. Man's recent experience w/ AT&T I decided to cancel my cell phone plan entirely. To HAIL with it! I'll share Mr. Man's cell phone and he can share my land line.