Tweens and Cell Phones

So, my 11 yr old neice was over here yesterday, telling me about how her and her friend text. Her Mom pipes in that she got her the phone for her 11th bday, just last month, and put unlimited texting on her plan, adding that ALL her friends already has cells.
Is this really something all parents are doing now? Am I really going to have to have the ONLY kids with no cell phone? LOL. Tyler is 8, so I am not far behind this thing. There is no way I will give him and phone and say, have at it. I do think, that in a few years, when he is out and about without me, I will add an extra cell to our family plan and Leah and Tyler will have it when they are not here, to get ahold of me and vise versa. No interenet, no calling everyone, no way.

When I was 16, my Mom bought me a pay as you go phone. I was the one buying my minute cards. I know she bought it bc I had bought my first car, and she wanted me to be able to call in emergency, and YES I did pay my own car insurance too, lol. All thanks to my cashier job at Jewel, lol.