Thanks for the reply, Russ.

Yes, to date I've used my phone like a basic voice/voice mail phone as you note. (With the additional use of addresses from my contact list.) I'm wondering if there are functions and features on current phones that might be good to have from an "equipment" point of view (personal and business communications, travel aids, emergency data shortlist or backup, applications I'm unaware of). I'm finding that marketing and sales materials aren't clarifying my research much.

I tend to think along the lines of "If the cellphone systems are overloaded or down, text message may work" or "I can definitely see how access to maps or mapping features could be handy to me" or "Maybe it WOULD be useful to be able to access email when away from the office."

Also, I don't want to overlook something useful just because I can be a bit of a retro-grouch who thinks "I've been getting by not using the capabilities of the old phone I had, why bother/pay more for unlimited data services? Young whippersnappers all hopped up on 3G this, 4G that."