Unfair To People Who Don't Use Or Want A Smartphone

[Bert45]

I don't have a smartphone. I don't want one. But some photo printing companies offer 50 free prints a month with an app that can only be used with a smart phone. Why can't they or won't they offer me the same facility from my PC? What are the commercial reasons why they can print from a phone for free, but not from a computer? I know that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and they must make enough on their p&p charges to print the photos for "free".

[Tuvok]

How was the chap to know that he could phone in his meter reading?

No phone number on bill/letter.

Phone details available on website - but he is internetless!!!

No win situation!

I recently contacted local radio station as they were running a competition - enter by your mobile phone (£2 + call charge) NO THANK YOU or free entry on website YES PLEASE.

Went to the website but you had to give a mobile phone number to enter!

Their answer - mobile phone belongs to one person, landline could be a few people!

[woofgang]

That is bad customer service (power company) also stupid. I would not say suck it up about a change to service like that....the original situation is more like me saying "its sooooo unfair people on ebay are allowed to specify collection only because I don't want to do that"

PS its also a bit odd because both my uotilty suppliers REQUIRE to come and read my meter twice a year. I send in meter readings by internet every couple of months but they still turn up as well...well not during covid but normally.

[ElanaWeeks]

The mobile app brings money, money that cover the printing costs. That's why you can't do this with your PC, or??
You can try to install the app with an emulator like BlueStacks.

[Jackdaw33]

How do smartphones link to the internet if they have no router attached or in range of a wifi hotspot?

[KARL]

I sympathise with Bert et al but these discussions almost always end up attracting those who are affronted by the suggestion that one may not need (never mind not want) a mobile phone - everyone should have one, and it must be an internet capable one, is the direction of pressure. Apart from the initial cost of the instrument, there is always an added cost to run the thing. Unlocked phones are far dearer than tied ones. You have to tie up some amount of money for even pay as you go and unless you keep using it for outgoing calls at short intervals that money is swallowed by the SIM provider who cancels the number and invalidates the SIM so you are back at square one. Some people, and by now huge numbers of commercial entities of all kinds, simply don't want to to decline/resist. With companies, etc. it is likely always simply for their own convenience but it is (reportedly) often also for covert/pecuniary reasons leading to mistrust and greater reluctance of the unconverted. The pressure owes an awful lot to the allure of fashion and a dependency which resembles that of addiction - did you know that there are people who feel their phone vibrating in their pocket when it is not there ?

[bhg481]

Minne connects via the telephone network if I'm not near enough to a wifi signal from my router or a public one.

[KARL]

jacdaw at 17.42; Through the mobile network and you get charged by them - no such thing as "Free", if it is in the contract you are paying through it.

[sevenOP]

Some call it 'capitalist networking'.
There are numerous capitalist/consumerist reasons to prod us all onto smart phones, mobile apps, 2 factor authentication, using smart phone to pay in shops,contact tracing,paying transport fares, early/priority boarding, etc.....
"I'll scratch your (financial) back if you scratch mine."
The almost completely unnecessary 'advertising industry' in its currently humongous size, is conformist commercialism at its back scratching best.