The companies figured out that if the battery was not removable the users would generally trade up for a new one. Then companies like Apple played with the battery charging and even more people traded up. Now they tell people they need bigger and better phones. Better cameras or they would seem socially deficient. With the average smart phone at $1000 or so the next big thing will be to convince people they need a new thing called a Pager. It will give out a tone when someone wants them and they can go to a pay phone on the corner and put in a dime and call who ever wants them.