At first in playing Sims 3 I was glad they had cell phones by default, & I was excited about some of the options on it like memorize a scene especially for artistic Sims.
But after a while it got old especially when a Sim tried to call another Sim & got the default message that Sim was busy & my Sim couldn't leave a message (asking the Sim to call them back or something or even when another Sim called my Sim & couldn't leave a message so my Sim could call them back) or when Sims got calls for dates.
But I understand that that is part of the skill of the game, designed to make the player have less time to do other things because they have to answer the phone.
The Sims 3 game is a time management game after all.
I miss how they could leave messages like in Sims 2 & wish they had that option in Sims 3.
I think it would be cool if in Sims 4, Sims could go to a cell phone store & choose to buy a cell phone after being in the game for a while.
Something they'd have to work & save their money for.
Since they have cell phones in Sims 3 they don't need regular house phones & one of the things I kind of missed was how in Sims 2 the player had to make time for the Sim to be at home so they could use the phone when their socializing skill was low, but at the same time, I liked how they had default cell phones in Sims 3 because they could use it anywhere & this meant they didn't have to be at home to boost up their social level.
In Sims 3, they don't really need the phone for that anymore though because if they have a computer, they can use that.
I do miss Sims being able to call for a taxi & I wish too we'd have an option to tell our Sims to go for a walk.
I think it'd be cool if Sims could just go for a stroll on a lazy afternoon & it build up their fun need, even if they could stop & look at some of nature.