I can't get rid of my iphone. I have access to the internet all the time.

I see where your coming from and how ti works for you, but most of us use our phones for more then just calling. I use my phone as a notepad and to send text massages. If i can find a replacement for my phone that does what it does while enabling me to keep in touch with people, i will, but probably not soon.

I think this advice is best suited for those who are already mostly independent and don't have to worry about transportation among other things.

Still, great post, ill start looking into the best way to get rid of my phone in the near future.

thanks
Joseph

I generally agree with all those points except #1 -- I'm in Tokyo so I get a lot of visitors/contacts with no phone, and there have been many times over the years when a phone would have saved a lot of hassle. There really are days when plans can be open and flexible, and times when both parties have had to drop everything and rush across town to keep a pre-arranged appointment even though a delay would have suited everyone better.

I don't want to defend the phone too much though; I'm actually a long time phone hater who never calls anyone unless it's an emergency. I remember falling to my knees and weeping with joy in the 90s when I got my first email account. Maybe I'll just defend text messaging and ubiquitous internet access which, for now anyway, still involves the dreaded phone companies.

I love the idea of not having a phone, it is actually one of the two things I really want to not have one day. The second thing is a computer. It might sound crazy. I actually use phone and computer a lot but my ultimate goal is to live a life without a phone and computer. I might never happen but I always dream what would it might be. A lot of people did amazing things even without computers in history and we are so dependent on them that it might be actually really amazing and record breaking if one can achieve something hilarious without computers ... I can only imagine.

You can solve a lot of those problems simply by being more disciplined. Other party is being wishy washy? Force a decision or leave then behind.

The masters should not become slaves to their tools.

I found that to be a serious downside of having an iphone! I'm only half-kidding - it's awesome to be able to look things up, GPS, Google Maps, lots of apps, but I spent much more time surfing the net when I had downtime instead of thinking or reading or whatever. It's valuable for sure, but a mixed blessing in some ways.

Good comment Joseph, definitely true. I still have an iphone and use it for a few things - the general idea is that it's getting progressively more possible to go without cellular telephone service during life, and it's something people should think about. It's not a slam dunk, but it's definitely worth thinking on.

I agree with all of this. But instead of "skype out" you could put "VoIP" and everything is the same. There are a lot of VoIP companies offering the same services like Skype even with a bit lower prices (same balance/rating display on their softphpne)

This post is inspiring me hugely. I enjoy my iPhone for note taking and as a calendar, but I cancelled my internet plan last year. That the phone line could go too has never crossed my mind before. It makes perfect sense: without a number, you are the only one who decides whom you talk with (through Skype).

My plan ends in August: I will seriously consider killing the phone. Thanks!

I'm currently waiting for a call from a prospective client.

Thinking about this again, it seems I will not kill the telephone. I like the style of this post, it is blogging as it supposed to be, interesting, thought-provoking..

But the downside of going permanently without a number takes such huge balls that only pure cloud workers or rich and famous people can take the PR cost of being a weirdo. A cloud worker is paid for being weird anyway, and a rich and famous person has a halo that allows for being eccentric.

Otherwise, it seems to risky to seem so eccentric.