Cell Phone Text Messenging, I don't get it.

[NickD 202]

That's the first part I don't get, why do cellular phone companies charge extra for this extremely inconvenient option? Not only sales tax, but other strange taxes that are making somebody else rich.

It take both hands and eyes to send a text message. WGN in Chicago reported about 6-7 major accidents a day from people trying to walk and send text messages at the same time, hard enough to chew gum and walk at the same time. Then there was that serious train accident caused by that engineer playing with his cell phone instead of looking where he was going. Accidents? Sounds more like pure stupidity to me.

Can't use the English language to send a message with a number of character limit, have to learn to read and write some kind of a shorthand code. Leaving a voice message does not cost extra, can be done quickly, and with one hand, and you can watch where you are going while doing it.

Asked several people why they fool with text messaging, answer is the same, want to communicate with other people, but don't want to talk to them, frankly, feel they are suffering from some kind of mental illness. Will make exceptions to those folks that are deaf, dumb, or both.

Use to love camping, had the advantage of getting peace of mind, that land line phone stayed at the office or home, so much for that peace with the cellular phone. But does have advantages when trying to verify your party arrived at a busy airport, and where to meet. Had to call my wife at the Mall of America to learn where she was.

Wife's co-workers are sending her text massages at work instead of using the wireless notebook she has to carry, thing is, the wireless works in every hole at her complex, cell phones do not work in many areas. And they wonder why she doesn't get those important messages, think her co-workers, least some of them are brain dead.

See these slide out keyboards now and people using both thumbs to fly our massages, my thumbs hit better than half the keyboard, and with these crazy cheap throwaway way overpriced phones, just something else to go wrong. Did look at several that dies because of a couple of drops of water landing on them, what a piece of trash these things are, figure the maximum cost to manufacture these pieces of ####### is about 8 bucks maximum in China and they could, but don't make them moisture proof.

The biggest ripoff, is that a cellular phone company can go into a town, put up a couple 3" antennas with a couple of Made in China boxes and cover a ten mile radius as opposed to the old land lines that requires each home to have a four wire cable planted underground or on telephone poles that cost a huge fortune to maintain, but yet these cell phone companies charge three times as much for basic service. It's crazy.

Yes I have a cell phone, very handy for making quick 10 second calls and that is basically how I use it, but see many where that phone has grown into that persons ear. Some yell into the phone, ha, they don't even need to use it, can hear them ten miles away, and certainly don't have anything important to say.

[akdiver 3]

That's the first part I don't get, why do cellular phone companies charge extra for this extremely inconvenient option?

Uh, because people will pay it. Duh.

Asked several people why they fool with text messaging, answer is the same, want to communicate with other people, but don't want to talk to them, frankly, feel they are suffering from some kind of mental illness.

Cost me 25 cents/minute to talk. Only costs me 15 cents to send a message. If all I want to say is "I'm here" or "See you at 6pm" then it makes more sense to send the message.

...and with these crazy cheap throwaway way overpriced phones, just something else to go wrong. Did look at several that dies because of a couple of drops of water landing on them, what a piece of trash these things are, figure the maximum cost to manufacture these pieces of ####### is about 8 bucks maximum in China and they could, but don't make them moisture proof.

I dunno man. I had my last phone almost 4 years before it died. I just replaced it with another cheapish phone - I hope it lasts that long.

but yet these cell phone companies charge three times as much for basic service. It's crazy.

It's called profit. No rip off, since service is completely voluntary. No one is forcing anyone to have a cell phone.

Yes I have a cell phone, very handy for making quick 10 second calls and that is basically how I use it

Me too. I have phones.

...but see many where that phone has grown into that persons ear. Some yell into the phone, ha, they don't even need to use it, can hear them ten miles away, and certainly don't have anything important to say.

The world has no shortage of morons.

[pedroh 21]

lol txt n00b

abrv ftw!!!

kthxbai

[caybee 21]

lol txt n00b

abrv ftw!!!

kthxbai

[Bootylicious!! 2]

I text because sometimes I just can't call someone. Sitting in class, a meeting, at work, etc. I can't pick up my phone and call but I can text. My husband can't talk on his phone at work. If I really need to tell him something I can text him. It's just easier sometimes. Plus, I have unlimited text messaging. Yeah, I pay a little extra each month for that service but it's cheaper than the per minute rate if I were calling all those people. I usually have around 300 or more texts a month.

BTW, Pedro, you kick @ss!

[PlatyPius 5]

We have a 700 minute family plan with 'free' calling to other ATT phones. We typically roll over about 300-400 minutes per month. Text messages cost 10 cents each, or 20 cents each to/from England. Over 200, that is. I hardly ever send text messages, but Mags does and my Mom does sometimes too (we put her on our family plan too.) So, I added the 200 Message thing for $5/month. I just got a new phone yesterday... one of the PDA/Smartphones. So, I'll be getting the add-on data plan for $30/month. Our basic package is about $90/month as it is. Plus insurance on all of the phones, $5/month for the luxury of preventing the kid from downloading more than $3 of stuff per month... my bill will end up being in the $150/month range + taxes and fees. But.... that's for 4 people, so if you divide it out, it doesn't seem as bad.

People who text while driving..... they should be shot.

[Ling Ling 22]

I have friends all over the world, and that includes my best-friend (my wife). I can easily and cost efficiently have a conversation via text messages or email from my phone.

I can send messages day or night and not worry that a phone will ring in the middle of the night and wake someone in a different time zone.

People who do ANYTHING in the car, other than driving...should be shot.

This includes talking on a cellphone. It's not the holding the phone that's a problem, it's the "holding a conversation" that causes accidents.

When some guy is driving and on his cellphone having an argument with someone, he doesn't have 100% of his concentration on maneuvering

the 2 ton gas guzzling SUV down the road.

Ever notice when you pass a left lane hog, 90% of the time they're on a cellphone?

Anybody that drinks, eats, shaves, reads, does makeup, texts, or uses a cellphone, should not be driving.

Back to texting....aka SMS...it's the future. Don't be the last guy with a color television on your block

[nunyab 0]

Well i am a store manager at a major cell phone companies store. And i have to say i have some CRaaaaaZZyyy bills coming in, people will pay for it that's forsure.. Texting? I have two teenagers and the only way they communicate well is via text so guess what i do? Also all the managers i work with we text eachother so we can ask questions without being pulled off the floor.

If you hate texting have you considered sending a voice message (post card?) you just record your message and send it. No texting required?? just a suggestion.

FYI we have the new G1 phone coming out $179 for a new line and contract it's an AMAZING phone touch screen and querty key board. before hating on phones check it out!! it will be out in stores the 22nd (most markets)

wish you luck on the whole phone thing and btw you're not alone

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well if you have limited minutes and unlimited texts it kinda makes sense.

I'd prefer people text rather than talk, especially when they have that problem of not realizing how loudly they are speaking.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

People who text while driving..... they should be shot.

Before I came out here there was a news story about a UK truck driver who ran over and killed someone while texting & driving.

It didn't help his case that before he got out of the cab to "render assistance" he sent another text:

"Oh $hit. I've just hit someone"

[Ling Ling 22]

Well i am a store manager at a major cell phone companies store. And i have to say i have some CRaaaaaZZyyy bills coming in, people will pay for it that's forsure.. Texting? I have two teenagers and the only way they communicate well is via text so guess what i do? Also all the managers i work with we text eachother so we can ask questions without being pulled off the floor.

If you hate texting have you considered sending a voice message (post card?) you just record your message and send it. No texting required?? just a suggestion.

FYI we have the new G1 phone coming out $179 for a new line and contract it's an AMAZING phone touch screen and querty key board. before hating on phones check it out!! it will be out in stores the 22nd (most markets)

wish you luck on the whole phone thing and btw you're not alone

So have you played with the G1?

I've got a CrackBerry 8100 from your company

WifEy just got an iPhone.

I'm not interested in an iPhone because, even though I text and email, I think the "killer app" on a phone is...wait for it...wait for it...making calls.

Yes, I said it. It's important for me to be able to easily dial numbers without hoping that I hit the right spot on the keyboard.

Now I do LOVE the web browser on the iPhone...but not enough to give up my #1 priority.

So this G1 with the qwerty keyboard sounds interesting...but it also probably means I've gotta call your customer service department and

explain why it makes since for them to retain a 7 year loyal customer and why I should get it for free or at the same price that a new customer can buy it for...not for $400

bucks. I hate having to do that every couple of years...they should just let me tick off whatever new phone I want for free every 2 years.

I'm paying a little over $200 every month...they should be nice to me

[NickD 202]

I text because sometimes I just can't call someone. Sitting in class, a meeting, at work, etc. I can't pick up my phone and call but I can text. My husband can't talk on his phone at work. If I really need to tell him something I can text him. It's just easier sometimes. Plus, I have unlimited text messaging. Yeah, I pay a little extra each month for that service but it's cheaper than the per minute rate if I were calling all those people. I usually have around 300 or more texts a month.

BTW, Pedro, you kick @ss!

Ha, shouldn't you by paying attention in class and not fooling around with your cell phone. Phone companies always have been a ripoff in this country, back in the old days, used operators, but they were replaced by a stepping relay, those cost 150 bucks each, even way back when and one was required for each digit you dialed with that pulse. Hate to have a job where I could be replaced by a relay. Anyway, those expensive relays that also had a short life and were expensive to maintain was replaced by all solid state touch tone at a far more economical cost and essentially had unlimited life. So while the phone companies were saving billions, they increased the rates with touch tone! Cellular phones are far cheaper than land lines as I already pointed out, trillions cheaper, but yet the rates are drastically higher. Another ripoff. And why federal excise tax, FCC charges, sales tax, etc., that drives up your bill another 20-25 bucks per month? If used in an emergency or a business, phones are not a luxury. Today, at today's prices, a 19 cent integrate circuit replaces over a thousand dollars worth of relays at 40 year old prices for telephone switching circuits.

Even with the drastic price increases in electrical energy that is also criminal as 99% of this energy is produced domestically and doesn't have a damn thing to do with OPEC, our cellular phone bill, using practically no energy at all is costing 2-3 times as much as our electrical bill. Least you are getting something for your electrical bill, think about walking out to a stream and beating your clothes on a rock as opposed to pushing a button.

Did try those prepaid plan phones, worthless around here, they attempt to piggyback on other services and are using only about 25% of that service, so can't even spend a quarter to make a call if you are a couple of bucks away and receive no signal. HDTV was never intended to give us a clearer TV picture, is intended to free up about 1GHz of airway space, so we can even get screwed with more electronic junk. We are living without it now, but will be a necessity.

In Venezuela, cell phones are dirt cheap like the price of gas at 11 cents per gallon, of course, you don't have any freedom, but we are also losing that here too while being screwed on both gas and cell phone service.

[akdiver 3]

I'm paying a little over $200 every month...they should be nice to me

That's insane. I put $100 of time on my prepaid and it should be enough to last me a freakin' YEAR at the rate I use it.

[Ling Ling 22]

Phone companies always have been a ripoff in this country, back in the old days, used operators, but they were replaced by a stepping relay, those cost 150 bucks each, even way back when and one was required for each digit you dialed with that pulse. Hate to have a job where I could be replaced by a relay. ...SNIPPED

The first phone system that didn't require an operator was the "Stroger Switch".

It was invented by an undertaker after he found that his competitor's wife (a phone operator) was sending all the undertaking calls to her husband,

regardless of proximity or fairness. So he (Stroger) set out to design a system where people could directly call from one place to another without going through an operator.

Necessity....Invention

[Ling Ling 22]

I'm paying a little over $200 every month...they should be nice to me

That's insane. I put $100 of time on my prepaid and it should be enough to last me a freakin' YEAR at the rate I use it.

It's relative...I have no other phone. This is my home phone, work phone, mobile phone....and I travel a lot.

OK...I do have a Japanese cellphone too (they have a closed network).

If you had a need to use the phone for business, and add up your home, cell and work phone use...it probably wouldn't seam insane.

Sanity...Relative.