cell phones

@timhinyy (1652)
United States
February 23, 2010 3:24pm CST
ok i guess this is another something that someone will need to explain to me as i guess i am one of the few that does not have one. besides for emergencies, which i could see that one would come in very handy, which is why my one friend originally got one and now he seems very frustrated with his. what is the main reason so many have a cell phone? my only wireless device is my laptop and a video player so for me a cell phone is just a needless expense that i can't afford at this time unless you had your cell and the laptop tied together in one service then i could see that for a reason. so what is your reason to have a cell phone? i don't travel much except to see my parents so i really don't need one.
7 people like this
28 responses
@kaylachan (56209)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Feb 10
I have a cell phone because for me its cheeper then a land line. I spend more time texting then I do talking, and George, my partner uses his for business when it comes to being a manager for Pizza Hut. With him having long hours (and the fact he used to drive full time) I decided long ago to put him on my account. So I pay for the both of us. It is a lot easier then a land line, because I'm not tied down to a certin range within my home like people with land linds tend to be. In fact for a while we had both, but eventually I decided we didn't need to be paying the bill for the land line. Most everyone I know has cell phones, and use them more frequently. Cell phones for me are a need and a sorce of comicuation.
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
yes i can understand that it really depends on each person's needs. for some it is a lot more practical then for some others. i have an online business, but i am not away from a computer much so if someone needs to contact me they still can. if you could get a plan with more then one phone that makes a lot of sense to do that to save money.
@xenobane (202)
• Canada
24 Feb 10
Good discussion about cell phone, although I have one,I don't really use it much unless is an emergency. If it weren't for a bus strike in my area, I would not have gotten the phone in the first place, as I needed it to call my folks to pick me up after school. Now I just use it for emergency situation, and I am using a prepaid phone so I only spend when I need to. I got a landline in my home, so if I need to call someone I'll use that, no reason to increase expense because I want the easy way out. While I am at school, whenever I see someone go out in the middle of the class just to answer some call, I'll shake my head as you should focused on work during work time, and enjoy leisure only at leisure time. Mixing the two will just make you more tired and less efficient. Cell phone is a great way to communicate, but you better not over use it, don't become a slave to the tool that is used to serve you.
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
i think if i ever got one it would probably be on of those pay as needed phones, since i would only use it in case of an emergency. i don't think i would be giving my number out to only the most important people in my life so that when i got a call I'd know it was important.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
24 Feb 10
hi timhinyy, I only recently got one and what I got was a trac phone where you buy the minutes ahead of time. I do work out of town and travel back and forth at late hours so it really makes sense for me to carry one. I also have a 16 yr old who often needs rides and if I am not home then it makes it so she can get in touch with me. The only people that have my # are my daughters and a couple of friends who know to only call on that phone if it is an emergency. I really don't feel a need to use one just to chat to friends etc. I really don't love talking on the phone so much and I do have a landline and that is good enough for me.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
25 Feb 10
Ironic...I just this afternoon picked up one of these tracfones for a customer who does not drive. He doesn't have a landline and figured a trac phone mite at least give him some peace of mind in an emergency. I actually wouldn't think he really needs this but he'll figure it out.
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
yes i can see if you have children that need to be picked up and you might be out of the house that it would come in pretty handy to be able to be reached easily, especially if one of them would be sick or something at school. my sister and brother in law also have that phone where you pay for the minutes ahead of time and they seem to like it.
@Margajoe (4709)
• Germany
23 Feb 10
LOL . No one understands me around here. I am one of the ones who has an old cell phone, just for emergency's. But I leave it at home and forget to recharge it. I used to be terrible, and always had one with me. But now a days, I don't care anymore. I like my privacy. Having a cell phone with me all the time, made me tense. I like my privacy. I don't like to have to explain where I am and what I am doing all the time. Not only that, it is expensive as well. Take care.
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
yeah i can't afford the expense of one at this time so since i don't need to have one i don't. it would be one more thing that i could forget someplace and then where would i be. I'm used to charging things though have to keep the laptop plugging in to charge and the portable video player so that part wouldn't be too bad.
1 person likes this
@dreamnishu (1247)
• China
23 Feb 10
For me cell phone is easy way to contact a person. Really impossible to carry laptop always. But it's possible to carry cell phone always. I stay so far from home. and my parents contact with me through phone. Not possible to be online more over the sound is not clear in online but clear in cell phone.
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I guess it would depend what network or carrier you had to how good the quality was away from home. I could see if you lived far away it would be a good way for your family to get in touch with you.
• United States
24 Feb 10
I originally got my cell phone for the "emergency" reason also since I had to commute an hour to and from work and thought it necessary in case I got stuck. It was a little comforting knowing it was there, just in case! Since I'm no longer working my phone has become a bit of a luxury. If the truth be told I'm sure I could live without it. I do enjoy the camera feature though! I have caught a few funny shots that would normally have been missed if I had to go find my camera. I did draw the line when it came to using it for texting!! I find that the most impersonal and rude form of communication...YOU HAVE A PHONE IN YOUR HANDS...CALL ME!! The cell phone has also become a replacement for my phone book. If I ever lose my cell phone I'd lose the numbers too! I guess I should write them down. It's just so convenient!
2 people like this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
yes i could see it coming in real handy if you got stuck somewhere, especially if your car broke down or something. my friend had a camera in his, but the quality wasn't very good so the pictures did tend to be a bit blurry at times. I am surprised how many people would rather text then talk to someone. i will text my friend from the computer and he usually will call me back on the telephone if he's not sleeping or something. yes i could see how it would be a convenient place to store people's numbers, but I'd be worried about leaving it someplace or losing it or forgetting it somewhere.
1 person likes this
• India
24 Feb 10
Cell phone is not a necesity but is used by people who travel a lot .. i stay out of my home for the longer part of the day hence i have one so that my family can keep up with me ... My brother on the other hand stays at home mostly and hence does not need one. Its not like you need a cell phone everytime... ITs just a personal choice...
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
i don't personally need one as i don't travel all that much and the furthest from home i go is about 10 miles to go visit my parents. if you have a business where you need to be in contact with the customers quite frequently then i could see why you would need one.
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
hi tim! in my family, only my parents and the younger kids do not have a cellphone. everybody else have at least one. i guess you are one of the few i know who's not into it. i believe it highly depends on our needs. if we don't have much use for it then we cannot justify the expense. what is a need for one person can be a luxury for others if the use is not maximized or justified for the cost. for me, cellphone aids in communication. it keeps me connected to my family and friends wherever i am or wherever they are. coming from a close-knit family, not a day will pass without a word from (at least one or more) my siblings. when we travel, it keeps us connected with work and colleagues, with clients and suppliers. it's quite handy during emergency too. i'm not into using my cellfone's other features like the camera, radio, music player, games etc... i'm more on the calling and texting features which were its main purpose (for me at least). if you don't need one... then don't get one. it will just be an additional expense we can choose to do without.
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
since my family is scattered in several different places, my sister who's out of the country a lot, and two of my siblings (along with their respective family) is in the southern part of the country about 2 hours via plane... cellphones narrow the distance. it also keeps the kids connected to their parents (who are working in the city) at anytime during the day. the cheapest one i have seen in the market today is a cherry mobile, costs about $20-25. everyone in the family is using the same network/carrier so we are able to enjoy unlimited calls and texts with a monthly fixed plan. (the most basic of the family plans costs only $8/month with a free cellphone unit but with a lock-in period of 2 years. however, it would cost more if you use it on other networks/carrier.)
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
yes as this time i just don't need one, since i have a laptop i just use that to get online and i am online quite a bit. i would probably get one of the cheap ones if i did get one. i would assume all those extra features probably make it cost more then a basic package. i have a portable video player that i use for video and music and it was a gift so it didn't cost anything for me. i could see if you had a big family why you would need one there is not a lot of us in our family and everyone in the immediate family lives close.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
23 Feb 10
The cellphone has changed a great deal in a few short years. From just a device where you could make and receive phone calls and texts, to a device you could watch t.v. on, play games on, and do all sorts of things on. Apps on the Iphones are brought to mind. I think that other then emergencies, people are using cellphones more as a way to communicate, a way to entertain themselves, and also as a multifunctional piece of equipment. From taking pictures and videos, to watching television, to listening to music, making reservations to restauraunts etc. This I've seen for myself or on television. Now I don't see a need for all this stuff, I had a cellphone that I could waatch t.v. or listen to music or play games on, but I see no need for it now and realize it was an added expense to download all those songs etc.
1 person likes this
@tap0991 (2766)
• United States
23 Feb 10
i think it is better to have something and not need it then need it and not have it. I mean the games and music probably dont fall under that but the tv for the news is a good one to have.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
23 Feb 10
i can't really see trying to get online with a phone at least for me, because i hate not being able to see the whole screen. one time i had a friend with i think it was a pda or something like that, which he could access the internet with and it was so annoying dealing with the small screen. i can see some of the advantages of it, but as far as browsing the internet or downloading songs i would rather just use the computer its just easier to arrange everything on at least for me.
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
24 Feb 10
u have asked a very good question .... i got realized now ..What is the use of cell phone...it's just for emergency purpose..when we are travelling and to inform our parents regarding our status, we need a mobile phone, but now days the cell phone has reached its extreme limits, like surfing in mobile..4 and 5G services are about to emerge.. Texting is also the main purpose, call rates are very high, so texting is a cheaper way to chat with others... But seriously, i did not find the good reason why i have a mobile phone..i have two land line phones in my house, yet i have a mobile phone, to talk to my friend and my sister and also my girl friend...
1 person likes this
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
24 Feb 10
well, i also need a mobile , because it will be helping me to do my project , and to learn more about mobile communication and wireless networks practically and i too like electronics much, since, i'm an electronics and communication Engineering student...
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
some people have more use to have one then others. I am one that doesn't need it, since i don't travel as much as some others do. it seems to me you pay so much just to be online i wouldn't want to add a cell phone charge on top of that as it would be too much for me right now. they do come in handy for long distance calling as that can be cheaper the what the phone company charges. for emergencies that would be the best time to have one as you would want to get help to you as quick as possible.
1 person likes this
@tap0991 (2766)
• United States
23 Feb 10
well a cell phone for me is the fastest way to contact me and for me to contact other people. I do have a laptop but I cant just walk where ever I want and use my laptop to talk to people. Also it is a hassle because it is not particularly a handheld device that I can use in my hand. I am on the go a lot so I need something that I can talk to people without the need for internet connection although my phone can go on the internet.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
yeah i can see that its not very easy to carry the laptop everywhere. it would be a lot easier to check something on the phone as long as you can deal with the small screen. i think I'm just so used to having a bigger screen to look at that it might be a hard adjustment for me, but i was always a desktop user and now i have the laptop so who knows. i don't have a great amount of people who need to talk to me besides the family so for me its not needed, but i can see how it would be practical for others.
@tap0991 (2766)
• United States
24 Feb 10
well cell phone carriers usually have different plans that you can pick from and they usually have a plan where you can pick some amount of people to be in your free call list.So you could just put ur family in there and have your phone basically for what you need. You will get use to the screen size change too. It takes some time.
1 person likes this
@Haribol (80)
• India
24 Feb 10
Nowadays,cellphones are very much used these days but i have cell yes i dont like it but just for contact my friends and for internet connection its best,and its harmful to human.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
if people are trying to drive with one hand and talk with the other i do agree that could be very harmful to someone. if you are just looking for a quick way to check something online and get in touch with someone fast that could be an easy way to do so.
• Malta
23 Feb 10
Well personally, I use it to keep in touch with my friends. It makes it easier for me to keep in touch with people that I otherwise wouldn't bother writing a letter too. Yes internet on a laptop is good as you can send e-mails, but sending an sms or making a phone call from wherever you are is much faster. I believe that It just makes life much easier as you can contact anyone, anywhere, at any time. I do think though, that the mobiles which have a million contraptions such as a camera and other things are a waist of money and time, as they complicate things and make the mobile much more fragile. I have a mobile which has been in use for about 7 years and it still works perfectly. All the new mobiles I buy, go after a year.
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
it does seem a little bit like they are trying to make it so your cell phone does everything for you. they have them for music and downloads and pictures, which i guess would make it easier if you had an all in one phone so if you had that you wouldn't need the portable player or the computer or your camera. i just wonder how much all of that costs is it more expensive for all of those features?
• Malta
25 Feb 10
Yes it is more expensive for all those feautures, but only really when it is brand new. if you buy it after a few months it does become worth it. If you buy an mp4, a camera and a mobile phone it costs you around 500 euros (always depending on what kind of camera and mp4 because a camera could cost 500 euros alone if it is very good). But today you can easily buy a mobile with all those functions for less then 200 euros. The camera many times is quite good at around 8mega pixels and good zoom, and the mp4 pretty much is always awesome.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I began with a cell phone for emergencies only, then after several years and several moves, I just decided to upgrade my plan and not have a landline phone. I don't pay so much in tax for the cell phone as the landline phone. Since I do not have a laptop, I can use my phone to surf the web when I am not at home.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
24 Feb 10
how fast can you surf the internet on the cell phone, besides the screen size which would probably annoy me i guess it would depend how fast it moved too. they do seem to be making the network's faster all the time for the cell phones. for now the laptop is all i need.
• United States
25 Feb 10
It is not very easy to see and to use. You have to keep hitting the button to scroll down, and it is annoying, but I cannot afford a laptop so when I am not at home I use the phone.
1 person likes this
@user_786 (1338)
24 Feb 10
It is strange that you dont have a mobile phone. nowadays even those who dont have a need for it, keep it for maybe no reason. there are many little reasons to use it for example you go ut of your home sfor shopping and forgot what one of your household member told you to buy for him/her so you will phone up. there are several hundred reasons like this. you need phone to receive calls for interviews if you are looking for a job. you can send a text message to someone to inform about anything, say example you are visiting your friend's house and you send him message to tell what time you will be arriving, etc, etc.so there are many such reasons to use. ofcourse few years back no one had a mobile phone and there was no need for it. we have created some needs ourselves and also cell phone has eased some things for us. so it has both advantages and disadvantages
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
the technology certainly has come a long way since these devices became popular to have. well my one friend has one so i can use the online to send him a message so really only one of us needs to have one, since he doesn't have a computer it makes sense for him to have one.
@geniustiger (1694)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
I need a cellphone for it is really a use for me to follow up how are they on their school. If I have something to let my partner to process and do so . I call him or text message so that I could not go anywhere and find telephone. It is easy to communicate and call if I have this in my bag rather than nothing. If I would like to be fetch up by a motorcycle I just call and he is be there right away. So convenient to whatever you wanna do and ask queries wherever it is cause so usable to anyone. And it is already the use of common people so I need for that.
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
if you have a lot of people that you need to keep in contact with on a daily basis, whether it is family or friends or co-workers i can see where having one would come in very handy for those purposes.
• China
24 Feb 10
I have one but don't use it frequently, for the reason owing it is to touch with others in emergent situation or on some important matters. If I had choice, I will give up this device, however, in this society, I can't do it right now.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
it comes in handy in case of an emergency, especially if you got stranded somewhere while on the road or if you had car trouble, which you could get help there more quickly.
@andu_95 (31)
• Romania
24 Feb 10
it depneds. some people have bussinesses to manage so they have to kep in touch with wath's going every time. they also travel very much so they need a cell phone and not a brick.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
with the business that i have i can handle most of it online so i don't need to have the cell phone as i don't travel that much.
@verptc (246)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
Cell phone to me is my best partner where I can use or handle with ease. I can contact my friends or anybody without any hassle. Even during our outdoor meeting, outing, partying which need urgent reply, Cell phone is my best friend doing the job for me in seconds. Hope you too can have it more helpful if you try.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
it makes sense to have one if you are away from home quite often, but for me it is not needed, because i am not usually very far from home.
• India
24 Feb 10
Yes U R right. I too have one but, I normally used only during emergencies. I see many people using their cellphones when they drive, which may result in an accident. Using cellphone is not good for health.
1 person likes this
@timhinyy (1652)
• United States
25 Feb 10
yes we have that problem here too where someone will be so focused on their cell phone call that they don't watch what they are doing or they will be driving with one hand and not very well. most of the people here can not carry on a conversation on a phone and drive a motor vehicle at the same time. at least they can't do it safely.