Mobile Me

Call it a cell, a mobile, a worthless hunk of junk, whatever you want, either way, it seems for many, mobile phones are absolute necessities. ETC recently polled USA students asking the name of their wireless service provider, total monthly bill and who pays it, gender, and text/talk preferences. Here's what we learned. Of the 168 respondents, the majority of users spend over $100 a month (some well over $150) for cell phone services. Many who spend in this range note they are on family share plans where a parent, spouse, company, or they themselves foot the bill. Family share plans seem to be the best bang for a buck because say with companies like, AT&T, where a single customer can spend up to $100 a month on an individual plan (particularly if they're using the oh-so-popular iPhone), a family of four can share a plan with a landline for about $50 more. Of course, that doesn't take into account if one of those family members has an iPhone, which with the obligatory media package (does not include texting), is about $30 more a month. According to a December 2008 Consumer Reports article, Verizon Wireless is the top-rated phone service provider in the country. It is closely followed by T-Mobile and AT&T. Each company has their own gimmick whether it's rollover minutes or My Circle which appeal to different users for different reasons. Consumer Reports notes a person's area may have better cell coverage and service than another, which makes it an equally valid choice for service provider. Consumer Reports advises those who have cellular contracts (all but one respondent) to upgrade the phone when the option is given because although it seems the company is passing out a "free" phone, they are actually recovering the cost of those phones in miscellaneous fees which appear on the bill. After two years, a phone is paid for, and for those who decide not to upgrade, they are paying the company extra money for nothing. Consumer Reports also notes the increasing popularity of Pay-As-You-Go plans. With these plans, consumers can choose when they talk or text, and there is no commitment. In fact, Verizon Wireless recently started running a commercial that advertises their PYG plans. Not to worry, texting and other frills are still options with these plans. Speaking of texting, according to the survey, the majority of respondents prefer texting. Respondents who prefer texting over talking fit into the 17-19 and 20-24 year-old age categories and are generally female, although plenty of male respondents in those age groups choose to text. Those who text frequently most likely have package plans. With some wireless providers, like Verizon, a media plan that includes texting can be selected in the form of an upgrade from a plan that just has calling options whereas AT&T allows the customer to choose their media plan separate from their calling plan. Either way, the cost is about the same. According to a September 2008 article on CNews, Congress and the higher powers that be have taken a closer look into the texting phenomena. They note that in the past three years, the cost of text messaging has risen significantly despite being inexpensive to the service provider. They are also baffled by all four "main" cellular companies' decisions to jack up text rates simultaneously. With media package options spanning from texting to internet and as low as $5 a month with some providers to as much as $30, is texting really worth it, especially given evidence that excessive texting causes swollen joints and arthritis in the hands? That depends on who is being asked as there is mounting evidence that talking on a cell phone may be worse for a person's health than swollen knuckles or arthritis. Scientific American's Nov. 21, 2008 article says there is more and more evidence supporting the theories that cellular radiation can be harmful. Those who frequently use their phones should consider hand-free headsets to reduce the amount of radiation and its proximity to that vital organ known as the brain. Headsets have become smaller and more convenient over the years and are available to all cell phone users. Regrettably, cell phone companies have yet to figure out how to keep people from looking as though they're talking to themselves. Perhaps the moral of the story and this excess of pricey technology is to text and talk in moderation. While it's great to be connected 24/7, sometimes it's better to step out of virtual reality and join everyone else in actual reality. After all, there are plenty of times when talking on a cell phone is rude or inappropriate. Don't text or talk while driving. Don't text or dial while intoxicated (you know why). When at a restaurant or in a checkout line, put the phone down or at least, don't act surprised when the quality of service drops (and that's not the cellular kind). Don't text or talk during the movie. Most cell phone screens are brighter than the average 100 Watt bulb, they light up in the middle of the movie, no longer is everyone's attention on the big silver screen. Dinner dates are also a good time to silence the mobiles.