...what capabilities smart phones offer is to visit a cell store and get few demos. See if the capabilities meet any needs you have.

...operating system. One of the more popular OSs today. A bit similar to the iphone OS. It is generally touch screen and offers messaging, email, streaming content, social networking and internet on your phone.

I have a Blackberry which does a lot of the same things.

You'll get an "f" in consumerism for that mindset.

My phone has bunches of capabilities that I don't use or pay for. But it fits my hand and I can use it for calls anywhere.
For instance, it has a built in camera that I don't use, because I normally have a real camera with me. A Canon S95. I found a Kodak belt-clip case for $14 it seems to be tailor made for.
Another non-use is E-mails and text messages. They can wait till I get home. You can't send those to a land line anyway.
If I want, I can surf the internet, but why? I am old enough to have to use a magnifying glass if I do. Not worth it.
Games? There are enough people around playing games with you already, don't need any on my phone too.
I got my cell phone for a cell phone and the reliable coverage the provider spent good money on and that is what I use it for.
Blizzards in North Dakota are a good reason for reliable cell phone coverage. Except for a few tornadoes, what passes for extreme weather in Kansas and Missouri is just normal stuff day to day in ND. For instance bitter cold in the weather forecast in Kansas City is +30°? Naa, add a 30 MPH wind and subtract 60°. Now that's bitter cold. And that is why I needed something with reliable coverage in the first place. When it gets like that, it's time to zip the jacket up.

I worked in Grand Rapids for 2 years. That was cold enough for me.

I use mine to do everything from web-surfing to checking email, Facebook, Twitter, keeping my calendar (better than any day-planner!), I've got games, a calculator, I've got my music (yes, it doubles as an iPod), it has Google Maps and GPS, so it does a great impression of a Garmin or TomTom. It's got a camera, you can take still-photos or videos with it. A milllion and one uses!