Do me a favor … tell me what a “phone“ is?
A device to call someone? What exactly constitutes a “call”? While you’re at it, what’s a “smart phone” anyway? And how much longer must I drag along this 9 digit distraction?
I don’t know about you, but my so-called phone is used to actually ‘talk’ to people about 10% of the time it is in use. Maybe less.
In business when I need to show something to a client or customer, we don’t dial area codes, we use Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangout, GoToMeeting or a number of other tools.
We can gChat, iMessage, FB update and tweet @ eachother. For the baby boomers I’ll even bust out AIM for chat.
We can solve problems sharing files in the cloud or over email. A telephone call rarely even enters the equation.
When I’m out of the office, or traveling? I’ve got the whole word in my hand.
I’m taking photos, vines, and checking train times.
Streaming Spotify, Pandora, Netflix and YouTube.
HBOGo, Sirius Radio, TED Talks and Hulu.
I’m Yelping restaurant reviews, booking OpenTable reservations.
Tweeting, reading eBooks, utilizing map locations.
Checking stocks & sports, Ubering rides on the run.
Declining all “phone calls” I’m having so much fun.
They still call this thing a ‘phone’? Not for much longer.
Not while wearable computing such as smart watches or Google Glass will let us receive and send communication in our field of vision, without digging into our pocket or purse.
So do I seriously still need a phone number? Will we even have phone numbers 5 to 10 years from now?
I can see it now … in the year 2020 we’ll be laughing up a storm, thinking back to the time when we exchanged nine digits as a way to stay in touch, with Carly Rae Jepsen singing at the top of her lungs:
This is crazy, so lose my number … but Skype me maybe?
Zack Price (me) is a full blown Startup Nerd, Golf Geek, & Stock Picker. Never had a Job. Never will. Never Serious. Loves Taco Bell. Yes, I know it's not 100% real beef, just worry about yourself, dude. Tweet me @Zackonomics and let's be besties, k?
