What is the obsession? Why can't a phone just be a phone..?

I can see a reason why these things are attractive. Typically, you are going to carry your phone everywhere, so bundling makes the phone more useful. I don't do alot with my phone, but I do take pictures or record videos as the moment inspires me. I do not, typically, take my digital camera everywhere even though it would be better at these tasks. I don't often use text message. I don't browse the internet. I find my phone to awkward for these uses. So, I guess that is the answer to your question "what feature would you remove."

I don't even own a cell phone! My husband and I were looking at some, we're planning on going with the Boost Mobile, which is unlimited calling. Not sure if it's unlimited text or not, but I don't care because I really don't have anyone I'd ever call or text except my husband. He and I are both just looking at very simple flip phones. I don't need anything super special, just something I can make phone calls on is good enough for me.

I would probably drop the games on mine they are so not my type of games. I would keep the camera,and the alarm clock. My moms phone has a recorder on it also..I think that they try to put all the things that we may need in one phone so we aren't lugging a ton of different gadgets around.

I have never had a phone with all of those features on it before. I have always had a cheap phone that you can make calls or send texts on. I would like to have a picture phone though too.

Companies produce phones that, if possible, can do anything that the user wants to do. That's why people love how portable mobile phones are. Recorders, to-do notes, calculators, coverters, PDF readers, windows mobile quicksheet, quickword, and quickpoint, instant messenger, music player, game console, calendar, address book, planner, movie player... name it, this gadget, smaller than a hand, can do almost anything. It seems like this all-in-one thingy gets stuffed and stuffed as companies compete with each other for higher sales. But most of the phones available have crappy camera resolutions and the results are... oh well, nevermind. Companies stuff these phones too much that one function isn't really that useful. Although I praise the mobile phone industry for making life easier for people, for making an all-in-one gadget that makes people lazier everyday, I think I sympathize with you, ersmommy1. "Why can't a phone just be a phone?"

They add SMS and charge per text message. Add a WAP browser and charge for WAP access. Add a camera and charge for MMS. Add a web browser and charge for internet access. What's the common denominator?

I most certainly think it is over-kill. Just means people won't be paying attention to what they are doing and accidents will happen. I just don't see the point in having all that in your hands all the time... doesn't anyone have anything better to do with their time? I know I do.

The internet access. It eats up phone battery power, and it can't display some websites properly. But it is still useful though. It's just the least feature I use on my phone.