Suzie, you cannot open any account, rent a property or anything else in South Africa. The reason is that many people are homeless, so the phone is used as a tracking device.

I also don't understand why you linked me to that article. I do not phone people or text people. I use fb messenger on my laptop to contact my daughter. Other than officials, nobody has my phone number.

I was not able to open a bank account in Germany withput a smartphone.

Again, the phone is used to be able to trace your location, and an increasing number of governments and businesses now want you to have a smart phone.

When last did you open a new bank account? Im Ireland, you can only open a bznk account on the web. And you need a ohone for them to text yoy. And you have to phone back using the same number in the text.

I am not talking about using a phone socially. I am talking about the fact that governments and corporations increasingly wNt one to have a smart phone so that they can trace you.

I had to buy a new smartphone a few months ago because neither Dunnes nor Ryanair apps would work on an older phone.