Is a computer needed for an android smartphone?

[goin_nil]

My brother-in-law is considering getting a smartphone. He does not own a computer. Is a computer needed for any smartphone funtionality?

What would you be missing out on if you do not sync it with a computer or back it up to a computer? Is there online backup storage available to be able to sync your data/apps/music/etc to the cloud?

 

[PvilleComp]

As far as I know, No there is no need for a computer w/ an Android device, especially the Incredible.

You do need a G-mail account, which the VZW store folks will gladly help you set up on the phone, but unless you want to sync Outlook info, like contacts and calendar, there is no need to have a computer. Your g-mail account will track purchased apps, not sure if you have to access g-mail through a computer to restore them or not, but I would assume you could log in to that account through the browser on the phone or any other computer if you had to.

As far as what you are missing… VZ offers a Backup, there are other backup apps in the marketplace, pic ‘s can be sent to flickr, Gmail or Picassa for backup over the network. Other then enterprise e-mail I can’t see what he’s missing w/o a computer.

Frankly there ae times when I use the phone over a laptop when I'm in the field.

 

[savedbythegraceofchrist]

My brother-in-law is considering getting a smartphone. He does not own a computer. Is a computer needed for any smartphone funtionality?

What would you be missing out on if you do not sync it with a computer or back it up to a computer? Is there online backup storage available to be able to sync your data/apps/music/etc to the cloud?

Don't have a computer with my Samsung Moment (also when I had my BlackBerry 8330). I use My Backup Pro to backup to online and my SD Card.

 

[takeshi]

What would you be missing out on if you do not sync it with a computer or back it up to a computer?

You've pretty much answered your question. A PC isn't needed. It's helpful in some cases (e.g. rooting for some devices) but there are certainly alternatives to just about everything that you could do with a PC.

It might make more sense to discuss what he needs/wants with a smartphone rather than the other way 'round.