Are cell phones a want or a need?  

a cellphone is a need. it is easier to communicate if you have one. it also makes you laugh when you are down. but to always grab the latest once seen at the market is not a need anymore but a want. i agree on what you said that others can not even afford to buy a load but they have this high end cellphones. you know who are the can afford crowd and who are those who just want to be in. in our country there are already cloned nokia, so you might see people use high end cell phones but it is cloned that is why they can afford it.

Well I still remember those days we did not even have a pager, had to carry a coin to make a call in case of emergency. Today, we feel nearly incapacitated if we can be at reach or reached, more over love the access to the internet and carry on with gossip. I feel its a need, more then a want. In case of emergency, it sure saves the day to have a way to contact people and get help.

Hi chiepao,

A cellphone is a NEED when you have it for the purpose of connecting with your loved ones, when you are on the go and you need to check for your emails, you don't have the time to check the internet, we need a cellphone if we are too busy and from time to time we need to text and call our friend to tell them we remember them,,

A cellphone is a WANT if you still have a cellphone, it still caters to your need, but to are buying another one just to keep up with your friends, to "show off" to people that you have money, and to show off your status symbol.

I'm glad that you are a keen observer, i also wonder how children who are still in first grade being given a cellphone by their parents..

If the cell phones are used instead of landline phones, then yes, they're a necessity. If supposedly you're struggling to make ends meet, then get the basic cheapest phone, to meet your needs. What get's me are people who have cell phones, house phones, computers, laptops, navigators and every other kind of gadget, but can't make ends meet. Also, what's so special about geting the web on your cell phone, if you have a computer?

For some people, they want cellphone but for some included me, i need it. I need cellphone because I sued it to my work and as a Senior Engineer, my people are tend to call me every time there's a problem in the production. And also my family used cellphone a our communication. Happy mylotting.

Cell phone is a need as it connects people all over the world. However, I do not feel the need to get a fanciful one. I do not see any point in getting a cell phone to install applications to play games. Cell phones are for calling and texting. So long as these 2 functions are present, any phone will do for me.

For some, having the latest mobile phone is a need, and for some like me, it's just not that important at all to have the latest mobile phone. I don't even need one, but I'm thankful for the times it helped me out, like when I had an engine breakdown or missed the bus.

Hi Chiepao

I have a cellphone but for me its more of a need than a want I use it for emergencies or sometimes I call my husband when I get off work to let him know I'm on my way home, also I call my daughter to make sure she's ready and waiting for me when I pick her up from school , so for me its sort of both I want one and need one but I am not the type of person who has to have this state of the art high tech gadget

I believe cellphones have a main purpose to keep in touch just like regular phones, I don't feel the need to text or get online (heck the screens are so small anyway I would just rather get online with my regular PC) but I must say I do like one feature my husband has on his phone he can get online actually his phone can be used to do just about anything, I like that he can get online and transfer money using his cellphone from our bank , since we do bank online and off it does come in quite handy

Like one time we were at this furniture store and we didn't want to use our charge cards for the purchase so he got online and transferred money from our savings into our checking so we could get it without having to go back home .

to those who are in business, politician, busy people, it is a need. a need because they need to be contacted and they need to have it for their client. to ordinary people it is a want, and they want to just be on the trend. they feel that having a high end cellphones makes them feel on the trend. they want the feel to be in that is why they have it. i admit that cellphones helps us a lot in communicating with people, but case to case basis. have a nice day!

It's ironic, really. I read from someone's Twitter that "the crappier your phone is, the wealthier you are." And if you have a phone that's on-trend, you're a show off who is trying so hard. I am not wealthy according to today's standards, but I have a phone that was the "in" thing maybe seven years ago... even ten. For me it's a need, because today everything is fast-paced, we all want quick response and we lose for every second we are disconnected.

Some other features can be handy though, and as you said it does reflect their lifestyle. I know someone who earns a living through photographs taken ONLY from her phone. And because Google is now the dictionary, encyclopedia, expert on EVERYthing, an Internet on your phone is mighty handy.