How critical is a smart phone to your business? | Telecom Consumer Discussion Forums

For me, a smart phone helps in the work that I do, but it wouldn’t be what I would consider a critical asset. For others that I know, having a smart phone is a mandatory part of work as their business has to be able to contact them while they’re on to go. Smart phones are what I would call the modern pager, sometimes I wonder if this is good or bad because often you’re expected to work outside of your normal hours on occasion as a result of this technology.  How do you feel about it? Is it critical to the work that you do in your career?