How about:
* Smartphones have capacitive screens that is not compatible with gloves.
* Smartphones are not weatherproof.
* Smartphones are not designed to be vibrated constantly.
* Smartphones are more expensive and a lot more sensitive to theft .
* Typically smartphones need a constant data connection to display location/maps or another app or a lot of downloading, or whatever.
* Smartphones don't mount as well.
There are other applications, as well. For example, TomTom has apps for iOS devices and they store the maps on your device instead of relying on a data connection.
I didn't realize that so many people had expensive motorcycles but didn't have a smartphone.
give them to my sister, who gives them to their children to play Angry Birds, so they shut up for 2 hours in a row. Now THAT'S useful.
Just my $0.02:
This is discouraged. Even when not on an active "plan" cell phones retain the ability to dial 911. Many emergency service dispatch organizations have a policy that responders must be dispatched to the location of a call if they cannot verbally confirm with the caller that there is not an emergency. Consequently, if a child inadvertently makes an emergency call (which on a smart phone is sometimes as easy as pressing a single button -- you don't necessarily have to dial 911) they may trigger emergency vehicles to come to their location. In addition to embarrassment and cost to the average tax payer, this occupies the time of emergency responders who may now be delayed in getting to a real emergency.
Not having smartphone doesn't imply that it is because of the cost. Luckily I can afford one, I just don't want one. They bring about zero advantages in my life and quite some disadvantages. My old (read 1,5 years "old") Nokia holds its charge for a week, and does one of the best things a phone can do: let me talk to people that are not around me at the time. I (and this is very personal) don't need anything else from a device that has to be as small as possible. It's so much so, that sometimes I get old (again, read 1 year) smartphones for free from friends and give them to my sister, who gives them to their children to play Angry Birds, so they shut up for 2 hours in a row. Now THAT'S useful.
Regarding the advantages of a navigation device (a GPS is just a part of it) over a smartphone, enough has been said, me thinks.
911 may not be a factor where he lives...Argentina has a "911" and also a "103", according to my Argentinian friend. Although he was unsure if phones in Argentina had the same requirement as the FCC imposes in the US (must be able to dial emergency number even if suspended or not activated).
Might be different in Argentina.