Cell Phone Thread

[Spoonthumb]

Talk about cell phones

i have a contract phone that i pay for myself...its getting a little bit ridiculouse with 6 yearolds having their own phones tho

and tell me, does anyone own this (http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=Nokia+6126&q_sku=sku980136) phone

if so could they tell me how they like it..

[harper]

Don't talk about cell phones. Get in your car, drive really fast and talk on your cell phone.

[Jerrick]

I have a cheap LG phone. No camera, no keyboard. Its very basic.

I pay $10 a month, which is nice. I don't text much, because its easier to call and have a conversation. I don't use my cell phone too much though, so I don't need unlimited text and minutes, internet, and all that jazz, and there is no way I want to pay $40-$60 dollars a month for all that.

Honestly, I havent touched my cell phone in three days now, and I wont have it with me for another three days. lol

Little kids with cellphones make me laugh a little. I didn't get my cell phone until last year, and as I said before, its not even close to being an important object.

[Spoonthumb]

haha mine is and it doesn't work right now, and i need a new one...i pay 20 bucks a month for mine, unlimited texting and 200 minutes i believe

[Spoonthumb]

I have a cheap LG phone. No camera, no keyboard.

no keyboard?!?!?!?! how do you put the numbers in?

[kington99]

I pay £2 a month for mine, 500 mins and 300 texts a month. No that wasn't a typo, check out e2save.com. I'm seiously considering getting an iphone though, having played with two mates' on a three day muni trip i really rather like them.

[Spoonthumb]

I pay £2 a month for mine, 500 mins and 300 texts a month. No that wasn't a typo, check out e2save.com. I'm seiously considering getting an iphone though, having played with two mates' on a three day muni trip i really rather like them.

is that availible in the USA

[James_Potter]

Radiation from the phone causes head cancer.

[kington99]

is that availible in the USA

i don't know if that particular company offers US service but I'm sure someone does. basically it works thus:
1. you pay the usual £30 a month or whatever
2. you return photocopies of certain bills (6,8,10 and 12 month bills in my case) and they send you refund cheques as they recieve them
3. basically they're banking on enough people messing up and not returning the correct paperwork in time, if you miss one you can't send in any subsequent ones
4. also the handset in my case was a returned one, looked brand new and brought the price down more, but didn't get a choice on the colour

for smaller contract i.e. 100 text 150 mins it is infact free on some handsets

[forrestunifreak]

Radiation from the phone causes head cancer.

I guess that's why there are millions of people running around with head cancer all the time... :p

[Divebomber]

Like Jerrick I don't see why people are so obsessed with cell phones. I need to go into cingular and change all the internet junk. I only need text and phone. Nothing else...I'm paying like $70.

[Spoonthumb]

Like Jerrick I don't see why people are so obsessed with cell phones. I need to go into cingular and change all the internet junk. I only need text and phone. Nothing else...I'm paying like $70.

haha if you only need that why are you signed up for the other stuff:p

[sutton629]

my gfs sister got one and she is 12 and i have seen kids younger than that on them. It is ridiculous. At my house you get one when you get your license so when mom worries she can get a hold of you and that's about it. I text my gf every once in a while but cell phones are not necessary objects in my opinion.

[UniKid2]

I'm sure that cell phones have like... weird side effects..... like.. "may caus brain tumor(?) with exessive use"

why would the call them "Cell" phones.... they Kill you As slowly as you can pronounce: skibidyhoppoppolicious

To end my part, I dont have a celular phone, I would prefer to have a hand full of quarters insted .

[john_childs]

They should call them "sell phones" cause that's what they seem to be best at - selling new phones.

I use a very basic cell phone with Virgin Mobile USA (http://www.virginmobileusa.com/) on a pay as you go plan. Suits my minimal cell phone needs just fine. If I ever end up being on the phone enough to need a monthly plan I'll lock myself in a cell proof cell and stop the insanity.

[harper]

They should call them "sell phones" cause that's what they seem to be best at - selling new phones.

I use a very basic cell phone with Virgin Mobile USA (http://www.virginmobileusa.com/) on a pay as you go plan. Suits my minimal cell phone needs just fine. If I ever end up being on the phone enough to need a monthly plan I'll lock myself in a cell proof cell and stop the insanity.

For those interested, I have JC's cell number and can post it so we can speed up his recovery program.

[jamessd]

Or, you could just call them mobile phones , as they are in fact mobile.

I have the Nokia 1600.

I can call people, I can text people, and I can play snake if I get bored :p

Doesn't even have a colour screen! Woot!

Cost £25.

Pay as you go ;)

Good enough for me!

https://www.pldtonline.com/cat/images/264.jpg

[isaac steiner]

This thread is so pathetic:p

[Spoonthumb]

This thread is so pathetic:p

HEY!!!;)

[john_childs]

Or, you could just call them mobile phones , as they are in fact mobile.
They're called cell phones because they connect to a cellular network. If we called them mobile phones they would need to connect to a mobile network with mobile towers instead of cell towers. That would get complicated with the network being mobile and towers moving around. We'll stick with the cells.

[habbywall]

I have a virgin mobile Aloha. I like it I guess.

[dudewithasock]

I have this one:

http://www.symbianv3.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/nokia_e61i.jpg

Full keyboard, pictures/video/audio, bluetooth capabilities, anywhere WiFi. It's pretty cool...only reason I have it is cause my stepdad won it at some convention, and he got a better one from work, so he let me have this one. Otherwise we'd never be able to afford it.

[yoopers]

I finally have a microwave oven.

[maestro8]

I finally have a microwave oven.
I just got one of them record players.

[john_childs]

I have this one:
How do you dial "1-800-UNICYCLE" on that phone? The number keys don't have the standard phone alpha codes.

[UniBrier]

Get in your car, drive really fast and talk on your cell phone.If you think it's bad now, just wait until next July when all Washington drivers have to go HANDS FREE if they're driving with a cell phone. Can you imagine everyone driving WITHOUT THEIR HANDS?!! I'm a good driver and I find it really hard to do corners with just my knees, I hate to think about all the other idiots on the road.

[UniBrier]

How do you dial "1-800-UNICYCLE" on that phone? The number keys don't have the standard phone alpha codes.I recently found that out trying to spell someone's name in their company directory from my BlackBerry Pearl. I may have to start carrying a cheat sheet (or my old phone).

[dudewithasock]

How do you dial "1-800-UNICYCLE" on that phone? The number keys don't have the standard phone alpha codes.

Hmm good question...never needed to dial anything like that...guess I'd have to look at a normal phone to see which numbers I need.

[seanrquinn]

Hmm, i currently have an lg cu500, which is pretty nice. I think my rents are paying quite a bit, mainly because they're paying 35 american extra so I can have my 3000 texts (which i use monthly). I want helio badly, their stuff is so cheap and works amazingly, and the ocean is like omg <3.

But of course, I have to not get a new phone because of a certain company coming out with a phone that is going to change the world and how it thinks of phones. Google man, they're amazing. I know and cant tell you more cuz my dad works at google and i don't wanna get him in trouble x]

[maestro8]

Okay, I'll come clean.

I never got a cell phone.

My friends and coworkers chide me for being "that guy without a cell phone".

I figure, I have a phone in my home, and a phone at my office's desk, and if I'm not in either place, I don't need to call or be called. End of story.

That whole "what about an emergency" bullcr*p is for otherwise helpless people. Learn how to care for yourself and you won't need a cell phone, even if you're lost in the woods, or your car is broken down, or whatever.

[uni57]

I never got a cell phone.I got a "bag phone" back when few people had cell phones. It was a neat toy, if you didn't mind lugging it around and being stared at. Then I was without a cell phone for many years.

I finally got one again. I mean, what if I'm lost in the woods? I can take care of myself, but if I have to spend the night because I've broken my leg and it will take so long to drag myself out of the woods by my fingertips that I have to build a lean-to, stay the night, and kill and roast a bear just to stay alive, well... I can call home just so nobody worries.

Also, it's a great for collaborative fun -- like for meeting up with my unicyclist friends to ride the boardwalk.

[yoopers]

It's interesting to me that we (parents) worry so much about our children's whereabouts these days and go into hysterics if we can't reach them at any given moment on their cell phones. When I was in Jr. High in West Virginia, I'd take off on my bicycle to the mountains, be gone all day, and return home after 50+ miles on my little odometer on the front axle to a Mom busily going about her housework with not a worry in the world.

Even so, I love cell phones. I love the communicability and coordination abilty between my family members and me when I'm out and about. It's hard to imagine what's on the communications horizon. Maybe the technology show out in Vegas will reveal something new.

My next bit of technology is to get that milking machine I've always wanted...

[UniBrier]

Hmmm.

The AP says (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/TrafficJamBlameCellPhoneUsers.aspx)Drivers with Cell Phones (and uni57) are slowing down traffic!

I say Harper put them up to this.

[James_Potter]

Hmmm.

The AP says (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/TrafficJamBlameCellPhoneUsers.aspx)Drivers with Cell Phones (and uni57) are slowing down traffic!

I say Harper put them up to this.
Mythbusters also proved that driving while using a cell phone makes you a worse driver than driving while drunk.

[isaac steiner]

HEY!!!;)


It is, very.

[johnfoss]

Mythbusters also proved that driving while using a cell phone makes you a worse driver than driving while drunk.Consumer Reports has shown (quite a few years ago) that the attention defecit suffered by cell phone users in the car is little-changed by going to a hands-free setup. The problem lies with the conversation, and the attention being applied to it, more than whether the person is holding the phone.

Still, a switch to hands-free phone usage (good joke, Brier!) would still be an improvement because at least some people who don't have hands-free setups, and don't plan to get them, will just cut down on their calling while driving.

What's with all the people talking on the phone in parking lots, anyway? If you're already parked, fine. But steering in and out of spots, backing up? Couldn't you wait until you're at least going in a straight line to start the call? Sheesh.

Or, you could just call them mobile phones , as they are in fact mobile.I have mobile phones in my house. No cords! They are, in fact, mobile and I can use them outside.

How do you dial "1-800-UNICYCLE" on that phone? The number keys don't have the standard phone alpha codes.No kidding. The same is true for most phone/PDA devices that don't have a dedicated number pad (like my Sidekick). Also, with my close-up eyesight not being what it once was, having to dial words can even be a pain in bad light. I appreciate phone numbers that are easy to remember by spelling words, but I also appreciate if you include the numbers as well, for people who, for whatever reason, can't see the letters.

[yoopers]

I have mobile phones in my house. No cords! They are, in fact, mobile and I can use them outside.
Slight thread jack here, but I never give specific personal information, i.e., social security number, driver's license number, birth weight, over cell phones and worry about giving such info over cordless phones in the house. Is that a problem?

Do the phones transmit the signal far enough to be gathered in by a third party outside the home? Can the signal between the handset and the base be somehow interpreted and any personal information given compromised?

When I have to give my personal info over the phone, I always use the hard-wired line.

[Brian O.]

Slight thread jack here, but I never give specific personal information, i.e., social security number, driver's license number, birth weight, over cell phones and worry about giving such info over cordless phones in the house. Is that a problem?

Do the phones transmit the signal far enough to be gathered in by a third party outside the home? Can the signal between the handset and the base be somehow interpreted and any personal information given compromised?

When I have to give my personal info over the phone, I always use the hard-wired line.I'm not going to comment on the cell phone but I think being concerned about giving such info over a cordless phone in your house is not necessary. For someone to intercept that they would have to either be in for very near your house actively listening (or recording) at that very moment. Unless you have some sort of enemy I doubt anyone just goes around at random listening to peoples phone conversations in hopes of one day maybe hearing someone provide useful info. I'd be much more worried about using such info over the internet or someone at the DMV writing down said info and using it against you.

[johnfoss]

As far as ease of interception, the cell phone is putting out a much stronger signal. Your home cordless may not reach much beyond your home's property line, especially if you live suburban or rurally, and have a big yard like I suspect Yoopers has.

Of course, once your phone's radio signal hits the base device, it goes out over the copper like regular phone calls, and can be monitered, recorded, etc. Without a warrant, apparently. Same applies to cell conversations.

But yes, I agree with you that I don't like giving out the personal stuff over the phone, I much prefer a https:// connection. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's secure http, something you should see in your browser's address bar any time you're entering personal information into any web site. This is accompanied by a little padlock symbol on most web browsers.

One of my first ISPs (after AOL, back in the early days) required me to read my password over the phone to them whenever I needed tech support. Talk about security! I think it was the main reason I left them.

[Brian O.]

But yes, I agree with you that I don't like giving out the personal stuff over the phone, I much prefer a https:// connection. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's secure http, something you should see in your browser's address bar any time you're entering personal information into any web site. This is accompanied by a little padlock symbol on most web browsers.Sure you can be sending it over a secure connection but you could always have a key logger trojan virus which logs each of your key strokes and sends it back to the hacker who can then scan them for things such as credit card numbers.

[maestro8]

I never give specific personal information, i.e., social security number, driver's license number, birth weight, over cell phones and worry about giving such info over cordless phones in the house. Is that a problem?
I've been working in the telecom industry for a few years now and have been studing both wired and wireless communications... there are many answers to these questions.

Older cordless phones transmit signals in the clear (27 MHz, 49 MHz and many 900 MHz models). All someone needs is a scanner to pick up and listen in on your convo. Not secure at all. To determine range, do a "walk test"... call someone and begin walking away from your house. You'd be surprised how far some signals can travel... could be as far as a block or two with some phones.

Newer "spread spectrum" cordless phones (2+ GHz) are much more difficult to intercept... some models also feature encryption. More expensive equipment is required to pick up the signal, and even then it may be difficult to decode the audio from such conversations. You'll have to refer to the owner's manual of your phone to be sure. If it's a cheapie it's likely still transmitting in the clear... be careful.

Most cell phones these days are completely digital (CDMA, TDMA, GSM, et al) as cell carriers can use these technologies to cram more subscribers into each cell. The equipment required to pick up and decode these signals is horrendously expensive. I'd be more worried about people hearing my voice than people intercepting my cell signals.

John pointed out that once a conversation is carried on copper, it's easier to tap. Well, yes and no. It is quite easy for someone to tap the phone at your house / on your property... all one needs is a lineman's handset and the location of your junction boxes. There's one box at your house and another one nearby that collects the lines from your neighbors... usually less than 1/2 mile away. After this second box, however, the signals all go into digital-land and again you'll need expensive equipment to decode the signals.

Bruce, you're smart to curb your tongue on your cordless, but as long as you're discreet with your cell conversations, you're safe. Keep in mind many information thieves use "social attacks" rather than technical ones: they'll call posing as collectors, credit counselors, banks, etc. These methods are much cheaper and easier means to gather personal information.

[isaac steiner]

How many people on the forums have cell phones?

[Spoonthumb]

me

[saskatchewanian]

My cousin had a baby monitor that picked up her wireless phone signal, She got rid of the phone and uses a wired one now.

I have a cell phone but only because it is cheeper than having a land line.

[James_Potter]

My cousin had a baby monitor that picked up her wireless phone signal, She got rid of the phone and uses a wired one now.
That happened on the Simpsons once too.

[pedalone]

My family gave me my 1st cell phone for Christmas. I don't really need it but in today's society it's almost expected that you have one. It is an appreciated gift-even though I don't use it much.

I know a lady who was mugged and because she had her cell phone in her pocket (not the stolen purse) she was able to call police and give a description of the thief as he ran away. They arrested him within 10 minutes!

Does anybody else have a cell phone rescue story?

[yoopers]

Does anybody else have a cell phone rescue story?
Yep! Here's mine (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showpost.php?p=453110&postcount=22).

[john_childs]

Does anybody else have a cell phone rescue story?
Here's a heartwarming story of a cell phone rescue (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42296).

[phlegm]

Cell phones are evil, really. They're way too expensive, but people still seem to love them. I wouldn't have one if my job didn't require it.

That whole "what about an emergency" bullcr*p is for otherwise helpless people. Learn how to care for yourself and you won't need a cell phone, even if you're lost in the woods, or your car is broken down, or whatever.

At least in the U.S., all phone carriers are required to allow 911 service for free. In the same way that you can walk up and dial 911 at a pay phone for free, you can use any cell phone, even without a contract, to dial 911. So, if you're concerned about being able to get help in an emergency, just get someone to give you their old deactivated cell phone and keep it charged up in your car.

[maestro8]

if you're concerned about being able to get help in an emergency, just get someone to give you their old deactivated cell phone and keep it charged up in your car.
Great tip, Kev... my g/f just gave me her old deactivated cell. Thanks!

[monkeyman]

I just carry around a giant sliderule. It gets better reception than Sprint.