I’m one of those people who’s Blackberry is better called a Crackberry and it started while in Grad School. I needed to be connected a lot more during my commutes to and from campus and while running around campus then I do now. I have my push notifications sent to my phone and it’s always there with me.

I don’t like it! I just ended a relationship where he was the same way and I realized how really annoying it is to be with someone who is constantly with their phone in hand. I’m slowly trying to become disconnected.

Yes, sweetie. My phone is dumb.

Many of my friends are early adopters; I’m not. I like to see other people explore the features and work the first-generation kinks out before I blow the cash. And, like you, I’m disturbed at how often people look at their phones instead of the people right in front of them. And I don’t know that I have the self-discipline to have the internet in my pocket and not immediately descend into a gibbering ADD interrupt generator, attention span sliced to Wikipedian ribbons as information amphetamines jitter up my brain.

That said, I’m obviously going to be a social pariah one of these days if I don’t get one. My friends don’t even know how to make plans anymore because they all have smartphones. They can’t give directions because their phones all have GPS. Oy.

And I can see the benefits to having a device like that, too — not just in terms of intimate awareness of professionally useful trends, but also because the device is better at some things than I am. Like, keeping track of time and remembering my plans and reminding me I meant to do them. Maybe if I use it thoughtfully I can leverage it to become more mighty, you know?

My phone contract is up April 2. (Why yes, I checked.) If I have a job by then I expect I’ll spring for a smartphone, and quite likely my husband will too. (We’d have to substantially upgrade our phone plan as well as our devices — not cheap!) If I don’t…that’ll be a tougher call.

I’m with Bobbi. The only time my phone notifies me of anything with a noise is for phone calls, text messages and reminders(which is why i switched to a smartphone in the first place). I turned off noise for the other services.

I have had no trouble keeping my life free from the tether. When my alarm clock died and I started using my phone as my alarm, I quickly noticed that upon awaking I was reading e-mail. I don’t really want to engage with a device moments after waking. So, I bought an alarm clock and leave my phone in the kitchen at night.

I love the functionality; but, I occasionally leave it home on purpose just because it’s a good reminder about disconnection.

I have noticed one behavior I’d like to change. If I have 15 minutes to have a break or i’m on a subway or something, I find myself playing games on the phone instead of reading or meditating or contemplating or observing my surroundings. I need to break myself of that.

Good Luck!

But, I know I have friends who love their Droid phones. I’ll be looking for some advice once they announce when the iPhone is coming out for Verizon (they estimate before Valentine’s day).