Could you survive/go on without a cell phone.....

Quote: Originally Posted by Unforgiven

Sure, but it's just a little less convenient.

Quote: Originally Posted by missile

just the teenagers among us can't live without a cell phone i only use mine 2 or 3 times a month

Quote: Originally Posted by Risus

I have mine for emergency purposes only, I don't have a phone land line at the cottage.
I rarely use it.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

I use a cell phone roughly 7 minutes a month. My cell phone provider has asked that I go in and sign up for a special plan they have for sad sacks like me, that would put my bill at $17 a month due to my extremely low rate of use. The only reason I have the thing is because schools expect instant contact now. If you kid gets sick or hurt, they no longer know how to deal with it themselves, and rely on instantly being able to get you on the line to tell them what to do.

.......He said it was time for the federal government to rescue the nation's cell phone users by banning the system access fee along with extra charges like call display, roaming fees and 911 service.

He said the Canadian cellular service industry has collected billions of dollars through 'misleading' charges over the last 25 years. And all of those extra charges double the cost of most rate plans, contract terms change as rapidly as 'no service' zones in Newfoundland, and agreements are clouded with unnecessary words and vague clauses.

How many of you received a series of letters last month from Bell Canada advising you your MSN Live service was now going to cost $5 per month? Or how about purchasing unlimited web and text messaging only to discover not all of your messaging is free?

Maybe it's not all little Johnny's fault when mom and dad get that $600 cellular bill? Especially when not even the grown-ups know about the extra charges?

But this isn't the first time cell fees have been called into question. Four years ago, Telus was forced to refund customers it had double-billed.

Three years ago, a CBC Marketplace investigation discovered there was no real reason for the system access fee, then about $6.95.

It reported cell service providers separate the charge from regular plans so they can advertise lower prices, but consumers tend to think it's something charged by government.

The Marketplace report, aired in 2005, said there's no reason long distance fees are what they are on a cell phone. There's no longer a need to switch the radio signal into an analog telephone line, so there's really no actual need, other than profit, for cell carriers to charge an average of 100 per cent more per minute - unless you've hedged that need by adding a few long distance minutes to your plan.

Let's not even go into the per-minute versus per-second billing, but a well-known US service provider offers its clients unlimited North American calling for just $5 per month.

Defending the industry was the same Peter Barnes who defended the industry to Marketplace. He's the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association president and he said Mr. McGuinty was basing his arguments on misconceptions and faulty comparisons.

He said rates have dropped an average of 45 per cent over the last five years and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission has reviewed the industry each year and consistently advised against regulating cell phone prices.

Granted, for early adopters of consumer-grade cellular two decades ago, prices have come down. In that day, the government permitted the system access fee to help providers set aside funds to build the network standard of today. The problem is those fees should be built into monthly plans instead of added-on in a kind of bait-and-switch manoeuver.

Mr. Barnes said all people really need to do is look at their contracts. All of the charges, surcharges and extra fees are spelled out in black and white. If you managed to wade through the impossible two-point type and you're still feeling like you've been suckered, you're not alone.

Last fall, a Saskatchewan judge allowed a class action suit to proceed against Canada's cell phone providers. It's valued at some $12 billion (plus interest) and alleges the providers misled monthly subscribers by implying system access fees are somehow required by federal regulators. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

And that $4 billion figure at the top? Mr. McGuinty said that's the estimated annual profit split amongst Canada's cell service providers. Gotta like those extras.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

Well, it seems like an awful lot of people here who haven't bought into the need to be constantly connected.

Quote: Originally Posted by karrie

Well, it seems like an awful lot of people here who haven't bought into the need to be constantly connected.

Quote: Originally Posted by mabudon

We have never owned a cellphone. My wife occasionally has to make use of a strictly work-phone unit, but it is part of the security system at her job, so only is she is opening or closing the store does she need to use it to maintain constant communication while locking up and activating the alarms etc. The phone is not to EVER be used except in that particular situation OR in actual criminal emergencies as it only dials certain numbers anyways

So yeah, if cellphones disappeared tomorrow it wouldn't change our personal lives at all..The current ONLY phone in our house has got to be 30 years old at least, an early touchtone Bell phone, bone coloured, with the bells and all, it freaks people out when it rings, and will break your foot should you drop it

Quote: Originally Posted by coldstream

I have never owned a cell phone, either.. and can say with confidence that i never will own one. Most of my experience with cell phones are with people being rude and using it libraries, next to you on trains or buses, restaurants always talking too loud and invading the tranquility of other's space, or worse doing incredibly stupid things while driving their cars.. always talking about nothing important. Many seem to have a pathological need for company in our society, and inability to cope with being alone with your own thoughts, that incessant chatter seems to mollify, however superficially. That's fine.. i'm just tired of people barging into my own space with it. My hopes are that they will come up with a commercial signal suppressor, that will keep people from using it in public places where it bothers others with inane babble.

Quote: Originally Posted by Risus

I hope cell phone use by car drivers will be banned...

Quote: Originally Posted by scratch

Why, I would like to know.

Dazzle all of us with your acumen.

Quote: Originally Posted by Risus

LOL, you are obviously not the brightest bulb on the tree (I guess I had given you too much credit). Most drivers of vehicles you see doing stupid things on the road have a cell phone glued to their ear.

Quote: Originally Posted by scratch

I would bet that you are secretly one of them, but to crafty to be caught!

Quote: Originally Posted by Risus

Nope, emergency use only for the cottage.

Quote: Originally Posted by scratch

I applaud you Risus for responsible use of the device.

Sincerely,
scratch