what kind of cell phone do you have?

[JimInOK]

My DW was recently returning home with our 2 kids on the turnpike. Had a problem with the car. Coldest night of the year (to that point). I was never more grateful for cell phones! When my family is on the highway, I consider a cell phone to be as much a necessity as a seat belt. (As long as they're not using it while driving!)

[Beppington]

Originally Posted by Bookie

My provider is US Cellular, and my phone is a very basic Nokia. Both work to my satisfaction.

After vowing that I would "never wear a leash," I got a cell phone this year because I was tired of listening to people complain they could never reach me. Frankly, I consider the gadget a full-blown indulgence, but I appreciate the convenience.

I'm quite sure we would get fewer clients/ jobs if I couldn't be reached by cell phone. Many people (clients) want the ease, speed & even comfort of quickly reaching the people working for them, & if they can't get it they'll go to someone else.

[am_vanquish]

DW just talked me into getting her an iPhone for her birthday, her argument: the apps will help me do better in nursing school. I agree with DisneySteve, it's a cool gadget that I'm willing to take out of our "luxuries" account.

P.S. I get a discount at AT&T through my employer, so the monthly data plan won't be nearly as ridiculous! Otherwise she'd be getting socks for her b-day!

[daviddane]

I never use cell phones as it creates a lot of disturbance and causes distraction.

[safari]

I use T-Mobile pre-paid. I got a free phone a few years ago with a $100 refill card for $88. The phone is really basic, but it serves my needs. I pay 10 cents per minute and I can also access a few websites, like CNN and ESPN for free to check the latest news and scores. The minutes are good for a year, and I can roll over all unused minutes for another year with a $10 minimum refill. It costs me about $3 per month, and I am very happy with the service. I get great reception and often I have reception in places where people with iPhones don't get any reception.

[cicy33]

I have a blackberry curve. love it! took me awhile to get used to it though. I have had it over a year now. I also have alltel as my provider. It is one of our more expensive items. we don't have a landline. feel that would be wasteful as we all have cell phones.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by am_vanquish

DW just talked me into getting her an iPhone for her birthday, her argument: the apps will help me do better in nursing school. I agree with DisneySteve, it's a cool gadget that I'm willing to take out of our "luxuries" account.

P.S. I get a discount at AT&T through my employer, so the monthly data plan won't be nearly as ridiculous! Otherwise she'd be getting socks for her b-day!

My resistance to getting an iPhone is gradually eroding. I haven't broken down yet but I suspect I will eventually. Of course, if I get one, my wife has to get one, too. That doubles the cost.

[Like2Plan]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

My resistance to getting an iPhone is gradually eroding. I haven't broken down yet but I suspect I will eventually. Of course, if I get one, my wife has to get one, too. That doubles the cost.

The data plan (per phone) was my biggest heartburn...
That and I feel texting should be included with the dataplan (though there is a workaround if you don't want to pay for texting).
I think of my iPhone as a computer with a phone. It has been a very convenient tool when traveling. And, I am starting to really warm up to the APs. Some of the APs are really lame, but there are a few that are pretty handy. Ex. Flixster-for finding out what's playing, when it's playing, ratings and even trailers. My bank recently came out with an AP that let's me deposit checks using an iPhone and instantly having the funds available (you just take a picture of the front and back of the check.). I have loads of favorite APs which are handy when I am out and about.
I can't deny it is a luxuary. I am hoping the price of the data plan will come down with competition with all the devices that are being introduced...

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Like2Plan

I am hoping the price of the data plan will come down with competition with all the devices that are being introduced...

Knowing Apple, I wouldn't bet on it.

I do think that as the app offerings have grown, the number of truly useful ones has grown, as well. It remains a luxury but more and more it is a practical luxury if that makes sense. It is no longer just a phone that plays games.

[kork13]

Originally Posted by Like2Plan

The data plan (per phone) was my biggest heartburn.
...
I am hoping the price of the data plan will come down with competition with all the devices that are being introduced...

This is the primary reason that I've resisted getting an iPhone -- the high cost of the data plan. I love the idea of the iPhone, and it truly does seem to be very useful, but I'm not loving the over-priced, month-after-month cost (which of course, is where they really make their money). I am, however, starting to strongly consider buying the iTouch, to have access to the apps, and also because I need to replace my 4GB iPod at some point in the near future, as it is no longer quite large enough for my growing collection of music.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by kork13

I am, however, starting to strongly consider buying the iTouch, to have access to the apps

My daughter has an iPod Touch and loves it. The new ones have a camera, which hers does not. Other than not being a phone, it does everything the iPhone does except has no GPS and can only get online when there is wi-fi access. Almost all of the apps work on either device.

[jefffou]

MOTO Q....poor man's blackberry....and I hate it.

Jeff

[GrimJack]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I intend to live my entire life without a cell phone, heck, I don't even like the old phones!

I was with you on that until DW and I took a trip from Seattle to Oshkosh. Neither of us had c-phones (I had one of those bricks back in the 80s but swore off them when I was called in to work during a hurricane). We bought a couple of $39 net10 phones that are pre-paid. I can't use minutes fast enough; in order to keep the phone number, I have to buy more minutes and I now have 1200 built up. I guess I will have to start web-surfing with it, sigh.

[GrimJack]

Don't count on the price coming down anytime soon - they consider c-phones a permit to print money and there is nothing so far to make them lower prices

[cschin4]

I have Verizon. We tried the prepaid phones and the service was just not very good. And, my kids mostly text message. So, I now have 4 phones! Ugh! But, we have the "family share plan" so all the minutes are shared over the 4 phones. I know my kids "don't need" a cell phone. However, a cell phone is almost like the modern day stereo for our kids. In order to be in the loop, texting is how they communicate. And, it is nice because if my son is out with his friends, I can send him a text and we talk back and forth. He prefers that over talking so i have learned to text. As for the phones, I am glad my kids have them. My sons are 14 and 12 and I let my 8 yr old take my phone when she is out as well. There are no pay phones anymore and i like that they can call if we mix up our schedules on who gets picked up where. However, there is a price to pay as well but i think it is worth it.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cschin4

my kids mostly text message. So, I now have 4 phones! Ugh! But, we have the "family share plan" so all the minutes are shared over the 4 phones. I know my kids "don't need" a cell phone. However, a cell phone is almost like the modern day stereo for our kids. In order to be in the loop, texting is how they communicate.

I agree. Texting and Facebook are really how people stay in touch today. When I was a teen, we all wanted our own phone line and our parents obliged because they didn't want us tying up the only phone line in the house.

Really, a cell phone is a cheaper option than a 2nd line and it is much more versatile. Since my daughter has her phone with her all day, it is a way for my wife and I to keep in touch with her as well as her friends keeping in touch. And it is only $10/month on the family plan. So yes, it is not a necessity, but it is a darn useful luxury.

[Like2Plan]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Knowing Apple, I wouldn't bet on it.

I do think that as the app offerings have grown, the number of truly useful ones has grown, as well. It remains a luxury but more and more it is a practical luxury if that makes sense. It is no longer just a phone that plays games.

I think Apple enjoys market share (monopoly?) right now and also has more APs, but I think there are other devices that are being marketed that will open up competition and APs will be plentiful on other devices. The iPhone has it weaknesses: The actual phone part could use improvement. You can only use one AP at a time. It runs out of power in no time. And, I would like to have a real keyboard.
I think another device (that can do what iPhone does without the pitfalls) with a cheaper dataplan might gain market share in the future....