Cell phones sweeping the country:It seems everybody has a cell phone
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Cell phones can do just about anything – even bring you the daily news via the Internet. They’re small, they’re hip and their use has exploded.
“People want to have a better quality of life and that’s what a cell phone does for you,” said Regina Myers, who owns Communications Evolutions with her husband, Richard. “The phones can do about anything you want them to.”
Just like the leaps and bounds being made in the computer world every year, the same is happening in the cell phone industry. New gadgets include voice-activated calling, two-way calling, and text messages, to name a few.
The cell phone business is hectic at Myers Computer where salesman Richard Grissom estimates they sell 75 to 100 new phones a month.
“You wouldn’t think it would be that many,” said Grissom. “But people are always getting new phones and other people are always looking to upgrade.”
Millions of Americans love their cell phones. Since 1994, when 16 million Americans owned a cell phone, there has been an alarming increase. Today that number is over 128 million and analysts predict it will exceed 1 billion worldwide in two more years.
Warren countians have embraced cell phones with open arms. They’re especially popular with high school students who are already chatty in the first place.
“Out of our whole team, just about all of us have a cell phone,” said WCHS softball player Crystal Jones. “I’d say at least 15 of the 20 of us have one.”
Cassie McGinness, a junior, is one of those teammates. She’s had her cell phone about a year and says all five members of her family own one. That includes both parents, a brother and a sister.
“Even my granny has one,” said McGinness.
So many high school students have cell phones, they would be an overwhelming nuisance if allowed during regular school hours. That’s why cell phones a strictly prohibited at that time.
“Students aren’t allowed cell phones in their possession,” said high school principal James Bennett. “If the cell phone is found on, the phone is picked up and taken to the central office where parents can pick them up later. The students know automatically what happens if we see one.”
Owning a cell phone has its advantages
If you’re a person who likes to be reached anywhere – at anytime – a cell phone is most likely already in your possession. It’s that anytime access which has sold so many people.
Another primary reason is the safety blanket a cell phone provides.
“It’s comforting to know I’ve got a cell phone if I have a flat tire and am stuck on the side of the road,” said Regina Myers. “Safety is a big issue and a primary reason people get a cell phone initially.”
Bill Myers, owner of Myers Computer, says with the variety of cell phone plans saturating the market, some people are disconnecting their traditional phones. He says the convenience of a cell phone is one reason, along with the ability to have a customer up and running with phone access in about 15 minutes.
“I’ve got some customers with cell phones who don’t even have a regular phone,” said Bill. “Several people come in every month and tell me they’re turning off their regular phone. It’s probably two or three a month.”
There are also the super cool features which accompany cell phones such as voice-activated dialing. This form of dialing is hands free and allows a person to say a keyword such as “home” and then have the cell phone automatically dial their pre-programmed home number.
Text messages are also an option gaining popularity. This features allows the cell phone keys to be used like typewriter keys for written communication.
“And there’s an added privacy issue with text messages because no one can overhear your conversation,” said Regina.
Not everything about cell phones is peachy
Cell phones may seem like the greatest invention since the television remote, but there are some downsides. Chief among consumer complaints are dead zones – areas where cell phone reception is poor or non-existent.
Cell phones have become notorious for shoddy receptions, busy signals and disconnected calls. But that’s the nature of the system.
“Things like concrete walls, steel, metal and the density of a building all affect your signal,” said Regina. “The biggest mistake people make is thinking it works just like your land phone and it doesn’t.
“Sometimes people say their cell phone isn’t working and it just turns out to be the place they are calling from. If you’re calling from the basement of your house, and your house has a metal roof, there’s not much we can do. There’s not going to be a clear signal and it’s not going to work.”
Some parents who have fallen in love with cell phones as a way to better keep track of their children have been bitten by the deadly sting of unexpected cell phone charges. When teen users disregard common sense and rack up countless hours of cell phone conversations, it can be a pretty price to pay.
“There are some kids who run up $1,000 phone bills and others who never go over their minutes,” said Bill Myers, who indicated a growing number of parents are buying cell phones for their children when they go off to college.
As far as privacy issues are concerned, analog cell phones can be picked up on police scanners. This means giving out private information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers, should be avoided on these phones. The signal for digital phones, however, doesn’t allow this intrusion.
There’s no shortage of packages
The most popular plans at both Myers Computer and Communications Evolutions cost $39 a month.
At Myers Computer, that plan gives you 500 regular minutes, 1,000 mobile to mobile minutes and unlimited nights and weekend minutes. Calling can also take place anywhere in the United States.
At Communications Evolutions, a similar plan provides 600 statewide minutes, 3,000 nationwide minutes and free nights and weekends.
“We try to look at your needs and give you the plan that works best,” said Regina.
Communications Evolutions, which is an Advantage Cellular provider, offers a family plan which allows up to four family members to share the same minutes. It costs $15 more a month per extra phone. There is also the Zone Phone which offers unlimited calling to numbers in Warren, Van Buren and White counties for $29.95 a month. But only numbers in that three-county area may be called and the phone won’t work outside that area.
At Myers Computer, pre-paid phones are one way customers can avoid a service contract. The phone costs $70 up front and comes with $15 of paid minutes. After that, you purchase minutes at a cost of $30 every two months.
At both businesses, phones are given away, or heavily discounted, with various service contracts.
Knowing when to whip out your cell phone important too
Cell phones and cars don’t mix
Just like drunk drivers are responsible for thousands of driving fatalities each year, so are cell phones.
The Harvard Center for Risk Analysis recently reported that 6 percent of all U.S. accidents are the result of the driver being distracted by a cell phone.
Around 2,600 Americans are killed each year in cell-phone related automobile accidents and another 330,000 are injured. Bans to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving have sputtered in most states which have considered passing such legislation.
Being cool vs. being annoying
It’s hard to make it through a meal at a restaurant without hearing at least one cell phone ring. It’s difficult to make it through the day without overhearing at least one cell phone call.
The trick is to get those cell phone calls at the right time. Having your cell phone interrupt an important office meeting, for example, is a major annoyance. Having your cell phone ring off the hook at the fair, however, is way cool.
That’s why it’s important to know proper cell phone etiquette. In this day, it’s more important than knowing which fork to eat your salad with.
On a 10-point scale, with one being the bottom of the barrel, here are the things not to be doing when your cell phone rings:
• Eating at a restaurant 10
• Standing in a bank line 9
• Meeting with your boss 8
• Talking on your regular phone 7
• Standing in the batter’s box 6
• Using the bathroom 5
• Sitting in a movie theater 4
• Praying at church 3
• Initiating romance 2
• Attending a funeral 1