How long have you had the same phone? and what knd of phone is it?

I have a contract with my provider so get a new phone when my contract is up for renewal, typically every 18 months.

My "old" phone normally makes it way to a friend of mine so it has a longer life span due to the multiple users.

I always tell my clients that 1 year of life on a cell phone is equal to 40 human years, so your phone is reaching 160. Congrats! There are two tests that your phone needs to pass in order to answer your question on the average life of a cell phone: 1) Does the phone work as well as I need it to work? and 2) Does my cell phone do everything that I need it to do?

Not everyone needs the latest and greatest phone, despite all the hype. If the answer of the two questions are 'Yes', then you're good to go. If not, upgrade.

Wow, I havn't been able to hang on to one for that long. Either it's broken down or I've just had the itch to get a new one as I'm a gadget junkie :) I recently switched from a Nokia N95 to a HTC TouchDiamond2, but that one went down the toilet (literally) so I went for an HTC Hero instead. Great phone btw!

Thank you both for your answers. I have not upgraded, as I never felt it neccessary. Just like secretagent says. My phone does what i need it to. which is make/recieve calls. I dont need anything fancy. my phone has camera/video/mp3/blue tooth and i never even use those gizmos.

I have used my cell from last three years and I had no plan to switch it. but few days ago I have lost it.