You don't need to own a smartphone to make this work. For the sky system the ipad mini needs to have the "phone" built in. The free dial up web service day are pretty much gone. Some phones allow you to create a hotspot. Bottom line to be connected will cost you. For many of us that will not be worth the cost. For others it will be a must have. I don't have cable TV, never have. I do have an internet connection and cant imagine being without it anymore.
we have standard cell phone service and my wife does have text service on hers .... would the system work if the Ipad is connected with that level of service