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The Savvy Scot

Personal finance and lifestyle blog

Making Money from Smartphones

By savvyscot

I have always wanted to be an Entrepreneur. A bit like this guy:

For those of you who can’t watch the video, this guy is a 12 year old app developer. Quite remarkable that he asked for a developer kit for a present instead of a typical 12-year old’s choice of video games. That said, a wise choice given the makers of Angry Birds make over $1,000,000 per month in advertising revenue from the free version of angry birds! What an amazing business model!

How I use my Smart Phone

It is quite remarkable what you can do on a smart phone these days. Here are some of the things that I do with mine:

  • Text message (SMS)
  • Email – I respond to almost all potential SavvyScot advertisers and all personal email
  • Skype / Facetime
  • To store PINs / membership details / insurance policies – obviously through a secure app
  • Mobile internet browsing – anything from reading blogs to googling on the move
  • As a mobile camera
  • For Social Media – Personal and Savvyscot – Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIN, Google +
  • Music (Spotify) and Podcasts
  • Calendaring – My life is organised through this calendar (also synced to my macbook)
  • Games – Not a huge gamer, but occasionally Angry Birds or Bad Piggies
  • Managing Paypal
  • News apps – BBC, Yahoo, Bloomberg etc.
  • Shopping – eBay, Amazon etc.Β 

Oh yeah and I occasionally use it for calling people! A few weeks back I even played a live game of the World Series of PokerΒ on my phone! Gone are the days of needing a computer to perform these daily tasks. If it wasn’t for this blog, I would actually hardly use my laptop. What does this mean for the future of computing? Will smartphones become so powerful that they will completely replace conventional laptops?

I read that Microsoft are working on an application to translate language on the fly. In the future, we might well be able to talk to anyone without having to learn a word of another language. Generations will look back at us and find it funny that we once had to learn things word by word, for ourselves.

The future is unknown and the future is actually quite scary. Our generation have made progress over the last 15 years that has literally transformed how the world works. This is only the beginning.

What do you use your phone for? Does the future excite you or scare you? What is the one thing you wish your phone could do?

Filed Under: Money Tagged With: future of mobile phones, future of technology, How to use your smart phone, Making money from applications, money from mobile apps, Smart Phones, the future of technology, What to use your smartphone

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Lovely comments

  1. John S @ Frugal Rules says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    Wow, those are some crazy numbers! I use my phone for pretty much most of the things you mentioned, least of which is making calls. πŸ™‚ I had heard about this kid, great for him!
    John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..4 Minutes That Changed My Life ForeverMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

      Haha! The making calls bit was definitely an after-thought πŸ˜‰

  2. Mandy @MoneyMasterMom says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    Savvy Scot would you still love me if I didn’t have a smart phone. Because I don’t. I can’t rationalize the $60/month plan costs (mobile costs are more in Canada) I’ve been tempted lately to get one, especially as my blog is growing gangbusters, but I also know if I had one I’d be using it all the time. Right now when I’m not at the computer I’m offline, and with my kids and hubby πŸ™‚
    Mandy @MoneyMasterMom recently posted..The Evolving Bucket ListMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

      WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?! Mental! haha. I think you will change your mind as MMM grows πŸ™‚

      • Mandy @MoneyMasterMom says

        November 13, 2012 at 7:46 pm

        Time will tell….
        Mandy @MoneyMasterMom recently posted..The Value of a Dill Pickle, and other lessons from GhanaMy Profile

  3. Pauline says

    November 12, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    This kid is amazing. I hope my future kids are half as smart.
    I use my ipod for all you listed but still am more comfortable with a laptop. I like maps too on the ipod, and notes.
    Pauline recently posted..Little house in Guatemala, week 2My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

      So do I Pauline. He is an inspiration to us all!

  4. DC @ Young Adult Money says

    November 12, 2012 at 11:27 pm

    Crazy stuff here! I have a smart phone but not a tablet. I use my smart phone, but only when I’m not around my laptop. I also can’t use my smart phone much at work so I use my laptop a ton as I see it as much easier to use than the apps that people have created. With that being said, if I did have a tablet I’m sure I would use apps more than my smart phone.
    DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..The Laffer Curve and the Fiscal CliffMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:06 am

      Makes sense DC! I have found that I don’t use my classic iPad very much, it is either the smartphone or the laptop!

  5. Tackling Our Debt says

    November 12, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    That kid is incredible. Reminds me of a similar story I read a few weeks ago. It is amazing the opportunities that kids will have to make money if they just grab on to it.
    Tackling Our Debt recently posted..Do You Find the Christmas Holidays Too Stressful?My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:06 am

      Absolutely… Gone are the days of University being a requirement to make it big!

  6. Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank says

    November 13, 2012 at 12:07 am

    I’m actually making a game for iPhone and Android which I hope to have finished early next year.

    Even if I never make a dollar, its a really fun process.
    Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..Buying Land and Building a House – Part 2My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:06 am

      Wow! That sounds great… want to share anymore details?

      • Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank says

        November 14, 2012 at 12:07 pm

        Soon enough – I will post about it when I am closer to completing it πŸ˜‰

        • savvyscot says

          November 14, 2012 at 8:45 pm

          Awesome my friend

  7. Canadian Budget Binder says

    November 13, 2012 at 12:50 am

    Honestly, I don’t get so excited hence why I don’t have a smart phone. Not until and if they ever do the prices in Canada are so unreasonable it’s not worth it. I remember paying proper prices in the UK for a cell until I moved here. I never even bothered activating my phone so now it’s used as an alarm clock. My mate uses his smart phone for almost everything you do except games as he loathes them as bit time wasters in life,( to each their own). MR.CBB
    Canadian Budget Binder recently posted..What Are Bad Credit Mortgages?My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:08 am

      I have heard that you guys have a raw deal with smartphones… maybe when MR CBB becomes the next GRS, you will have to bite the bullet to stay on top of things!

  8. Budget and the Beach says

    November 13, 2012 at 3:56 am

    I wish my smartphone would cook me dinner and clean my apartment. πŸ™‚
    Budget and the Beach recently posted..Changing Course/$20 Amazon.com Giveaway!My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:08 am

      HAHHAHA!

  9. justin@thefrugalpath says

    November 13, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Words with friends, twitter, and checking the web. Oh and I text my wife twice a day. Other than that, not much.
    justin@thefrugalpath recently posted..Common Reasons Why People Complain About MoneyMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:08 am

      Words with friends… HOw could I forget?! What is your username?

  10. Jefferson @SeeDebtRun says

    November 13, 2012 at 5:14 am

    i think that smartphone usage is only going to increase in the future.. it can be annoying when you go to hang out with a group of friends and everyone just stares at the their phones all night, but i dont see it changing any time soon.
    Jefferson @SeeDebtRun recently posted..Love Technology? Want to Win an iPad Mini? Don’t Miss This Post!My Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:15 am

      I agree… that frustrates me incredibly!

  11. CF says

    November 13, 2012 at 5:40 am

    My phone definitely helps with productivity, in terms of emails and information-checking and blog work. I also use it as a replacement for other gadgets – guitar tuner, calculator, dictionary… the list goes on. πŸ™‚ I’m lost without it.
    CF recently posted..Happy Remembrance DayMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 11:16 am

      Guitar Tuner! That is a new one to me – amazing!

  12. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    November 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    It’s so weird how phone use has changed. I almost couldn’t do my job without mine now and I mostly just text and do email on it. I rarely ever talk on it- like maybe once a month!!!
    Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Options for Your Structured Settlement AnnuityMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 4:33 pm

      I am the same.. I only ever use a couple of hundred minutes, yet seem to use multiple Gbs of data!

  13. Jason @ WSL says

    November 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    The future certainly excites me, but I’m also a bit worried about how dependent we are on our phones. I personally don’t have a smart phone so I only use my phone for texting and talking. I will be getting a smart phone at the beginning of the year though!
    Jason @ WSL recently posted..PerkStreet Financial Review – The Best Online Checking AccountMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 13, 2012 at 4:33 pm

      Can’t wait to hear how it changes your life πŸ˜€

  14. Drew @ Objective Wealth says

    November 13, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    What a little geek! Good for him. We are really coming into the mobile age now, my current smartphone is the first one where I’ve truly thought, yep, this one does exactly what I need it to do, all the others in previous years have been more novelty, promising so much but delivering so little. I’m really excited about the future of mobile technology, guess I’m just a big geek too!
    Drew @ Objective Wealth recently posted..How To Invest SuccessfullyMy Profile

  15. Janine says

    November 14, 2012 at 2:59 am

    That kid is adorable! So smart for 12 years old!

    • savvyscot says

      November 14, 2012 at 8:40 pm

      Absolutely!

  16. Kim@Eyesonthedollar says

    November 14, 2012 at 3:19 am

    I’m like Mandy and don’t have a smart phone. It does sound handy. My contract is up in July and we’ll see what the prices are. I think we can do a prepaid one for a reasonable price. I have a great app idea. Kind of like GPS for your glasses so you can’t lose them, but I have no idea how to develop one.
    Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Obesity in America: What It Costs UsMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 14, 2012 at 8:41 pm

      That sounds like a great plan! I have seen similar concepts for ‘find your keys’

  17. Skint in the City says

    November 14, 2012 at 9:53 am

    This kid is amazing – what an articulate 12 year old! I’ve been toying with an app idea lately but no idea how to take it forward – but if this kid can it inspires me to try. Loving your infographic too – you always have such good ones! Surprised that there are more female gamers than males – would have thought it was the other way round.Re smartphones – mine was stolen in a break-in in August and I’m only getting round to replacxing it now. I haven’t missed it half as mch as I thought I would – the main issue for me has been having to call Directory Enquiries(remember them?!) when I want a phone number, rather than googling it on my phone. It feels very nineties to do that!
    Skint in the City recently posted..Washing Vintage Clothes – A Cautionary Tale and Some TipsMy Profile

    • savvyscot says

      November 14, 2012 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks very much! Sorry to hear about the theft πŸ™ – I do vaguely remember directory inquiries… however they are fast becoming a thing of the past! What is your app idea?

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