5 Ways Smartphones Are More Important Than Ever In 2016

There’s no question that smartphones are more popular than ever, but who would’ve ever thought that we would come to rely on them as much as we do? Not only that, we also use our phones for much more than calling each other – we rely on them for almost anything and everything. Here are some ways in which smartphones are more important than ever in 2016.

Keeping in Contact in New Ways

Yes, the original purpose of phones was to give users a way to keep in contact with each other. But in 2016, smartphones now give you the option to contact others in a ton of new ways. No longer limited to voice calls, you can call text, Skype, or send Snaps to keep your friends and family updated. And going forward, there will be new and innovative ways to stay in touch. Those without smartphones lose out on these new and expressive forms of communication.

Making Payments

There are now three leaders in contactless phone payments: Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay. Not only that, others are vying to get into this market as well because they see this as one of the next big technologies for smartphones. Why? Because paying with a smartphone is easy and a major benefit to the consumer. Expect to see more and more people throwing out their physical credit cards and instead using their phones to make payments.

Storing Financial Info

Smartphones, of course, can connect to the internet, so you always have access to your bank account info. But many are beginning to rely on their smartphones to hold more financial info outside of their bank. With password storage lockers and even cryptocurrency wallet apps available, it’s becoming easier than ever to keep your finances in order from your phone.

Keeping Important Memories

Apple and Google especially have made a big push in the last year to refine their online photo albums. They realize that users are expecting to store more of their memories online and in the cloud and to access these photos from their phones. If you want to show a coworker a picture of your kids, you no longer show them a picture in your wallet; instead, you reach for your phone. Software companies understand this and are offering more free storage for people who want to move their photos online.

Staying Entertained

Consumers rely on their smartphones for entertainment more than ever, and the rise of cordcutting is a testament to that. As entertainment shifts and more users rush to the digital sphere to get their entertainment, phones are becoming an even more important piece of that puzzles. App developers are rushing to make new content apps and improve on the ones they already have. In addition, the refinement of virtual reality is creating a new and exciting type of medium that smartphones help facilitate.

Michelle S. Kim

It’s obvious to see that we depend on smartphones for just about everything, more so than we ever have before. That’s why it’s also important to stay connected as much as possible. If you’re having trouble staying connected, be sure to check your Wi-Fi connection or invest in a cell phone signal booster. After all, much of what makes smartphones useful is lost without a good connection.