[tavavex]

So people can give you a call even if you're not home? I mean, this has been the main selling point of mobile phones for over 30 years, and especially before smartphones became a thing. If you don't take your phone with you, you might as well wire in a landline and just use that.

[thaumasiotes]

> So people can give you a call even if you're not home? I mean, this has been the main selling point of mobile phones for over 30 years, and especially before smartphones became a thing.

It was the selling point of mobile phones before smartphones became a thing. It obviously hasn't been the main selling point of mobile phones since then.

[iamnothere]

You making a lot of calls in 2026? Messaging services seem to be more popular with people I know.

I have a phone so I have options if I need to be reachable or reach someone immediately while out (rare), or for travel. And because some services, mostly banks, refuse to accept VOIP numbers but require a verified phone number.

[tavavex]

I'm young, and although most people prefer using texting or online messengers, I still call others and receive calls from time to time. I don't understand why everyone immediately locked onto proving that calling is unpopular now, because it doesn't disprove the point I was making. Phones are, first and foremost, portable communication devices. Be it calling, texting or using the internet, the point of the phone is to make you reachable on the go, and to let you reach other people from anywhere. If this wasn't the case, why would I and everyone else still be paying for a phone number? Sure, modern smartphones have gotten a lot of secondary functionality that is sometimes even required for participating in society. But the reason why I carry one around is so my friends, family and so on could reach me if so needed. If I chose to leave my phone at home most of the time, what's the point in having one? I might as well just use my computer for everything.