The impact of Smartphones on the average user’s pocket has never been greater than it is today. Transactions that were previously only able to be conducted via post, phone or during the early stages of the internet can now be conducted with one single click of a button. However, it’s all very well praising the smartphone for revolutionising our lives, but just how has owning one of these now ‘taken for granted’ devices made living cheaper and more convenient?
Saying Goodbye to ‘Pay As You Go’ Internet And Landlines
With any smartphone it is now entirely possible to live a wireless lifestyle. Infact, it’s rare for many households to have landlines, and many smartphone owners simply tether their phone to their laptop or tablet, and enjoy wireless connectivity that puts many broadband networks to shame. With a small outlay it’s possible to have a ‘forwarding’ number that will give you a static presence and allow others to call you as part of their inclusive minutes, meaning no hefty fees when you move house or go away for the weekend.
The other rising star in this field is the use of VOIP and virtual numbers. If you have friends abroad, many programs will give you a real number that your foreign friends and relatives can call you on, with them only being charged for the price of a local call. Several apps, such as Upptalk, Heywire and Textplus will even allow SMS and picture messaging for free as well! With such a wealth of availability, there is no need to pay a penny for an international call anymore.
Voucher and Coupon Apps
Gone are the days of rifling through the pages of the local newspaper or supermarket magazine now that smartphones are here. With so many different companies fighting for our custom, there are a wealth of apps out there available to no cost to the user, full of the latest coupon codes and scannable vouchers. The best part about it is that these apps will very often only keep current and valid promotions on their databases, meaning that what you see in front of you has not expired and can in fact be used. For those who wish to ‘play off’ the voucher apps against each other, apps such as Vouchercloud will often have exclusive codes…keep your eyes open and heavily discounted shopping and dining awaits.
Free Sat Nav and GPS Apps
Throw away that battered, dog eared road map. On all platforms, there are now several free sat nav programs available to all. They vary in quality, with some being supported by more expensive programs such as TomTom, and others being totally user supported, but there really is no need to spend a small fortune on a standalone sat nav anymore; any half decent, GPS enabled smartphone will do the trick.
The above benefits of owning a smartphone are only scratching the surface of how you can make your life easier and more convenient, as well as significantly easier on the wallet. Keep on top of the latest apps and trends for the smartphone market, and just about every aspect of your life will be made more convenient in some way, whether now or in the future.
