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That's not so bad. I still use dedicated GPS. I suppose the downside is that a couple times a year I have to pull down map updates for it. All of the other t

That's not so bad. I still use dedicated GPS. I suppose the downside is that a couple times a year I have to pull down map updates for it. All of the other things you mention don't sound like requirements but rather additive data or interaction but not strictly required. Nice to have's I suppose.

ghaff 3y ago
As someone else mentioned, it's probably also true in Europe that a lot of people would see having WhatsApp as close to essential. But, in the US, SMS is pretty universal and certainly for any service you need.
- LinuxBender 3y ago
  I honestly can not think of any service I need that I must use my phone with. Plenty of things use SMS 2FA but I can also talk to people, face-to-face in most cases. Probably the closest would be the IRS if I have questions because calling them means being on hold for a few hours, otherwise I have to use snail mail which I have done.
- kefyras 3y ago
  > As someone else mentioned, it's probably also true in Europe that a lot of people would see having WhatsApp as close to essential. What are you referring to? While it may be the most popular messaging app, it's not in any way, shape, or form essential. SMS is also universal, mostly unlimited, and much less weirder than it is in the US.
  - ghaff 3y ago
    I only know what Europeans tell me. I assume different people have different takes on what is essential. And my understanding is SMS can still be pricey. (Not sure what's weird about SMS in the US? It's on my phone. I use it. It can piggyback on iMessage but that's not necessary and is transparent, bubble color notwithstanding.)
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
    - kefyras 3y ago
      >And my understanding is SMS can still be pricey. It hasn't been for like 15+ years since pretty much every subscription has either unlimited*/or more than you can reasonably use minutes/SMS. >Not sure what's weird about SMS in the US? Don't you get (or used to) charged for incoming SMS?
      - ghaff 3y ago
        Both outgoing and incoming SMS used to have charges but (AFAIK) all the major plans now include unlimited SMS. I think the US went to mostly "free" SMS before much of Europe did which probably explains WhatsApp becoming the most common thing. (The only people I use WhatsApp with from the US are international.)

ghaff 3y ago

As someone else mentioned, it's probably also true in Europe that a lot of people would see having WhatsApp as close to essential. But, in the US, SMS is pretty universal and certainly for any service you need.

LinuxBender 3y ago
I honestly can not think of any service I need that I must use my phone with. Plenty of things use SMS 2FA but I can also talk to people, face-to-face in most cases. Probably the closest would be the IRS if I have questions because calling them means being on hold for a few hours, otherwise I have to use snail mail which I have done.
kefyras 3y ago
> As someone else mentioned, it's probably also true in Europe that a lot of people would see having WhatsApp as close to essential. What are you referring to? While it may be the most popular messaging app, it's not in any way, shape, or form essential. SMS is also universal, mostly unlimited, and much less weirder than it is in the US.
- ghaff 3y ago
  I only know what Europeans tell me. I assume different people have different takes on what is essential. And my understanding is SMS can still be pricey. (Not sure what's weird about SMS in the US? It's on my phone. I use it. It can piggyback on iMessage but that's not necessary and is transparent, bubble color notwithstanding.)
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - kefyras 3y ago
    >And my understanding is SMS can still be pricey. It hasn't been for like 15+ years since pretty much every subscription has either unlimited*/or more than you can reasonably use minutes/SMS. >Not sure what's weird about SMS in the US? Don't you get (or used to) charged for incoming SMS?
    - ghaff 3y ago
      Both outgoing and incoming SMS used to have charges but (AFAIK) all the major plans now include unlimited SMS. I think the US went to mostly "free" SMS before much of Europe did which probably explains WhatsApp becoming the most common thing. (The only people I use WhatsApp with from the US are international.)