Here in the UK, they've been hugely successful. It's estimated that at least half the population have one now - one source cites the figure as being 34 million. FIVE million were sold in the run-up to Christmas alone. Most of those were "pay as you go" phones where you buy vouchers for specific amounts of talk time.
What I was interested in is, what about the rest of the world? Are they as popular anywhere else? What do you think about them? Are they evil because the bible doesn't mention them? Sorry, kidding there. . . 8)
And then there are the personal questions: do you own one? What make/model? How much do you use it, and when? Do you favour ring tones or annoying tunes? And, if the latter, can you please choose your chosen method of excruciating death from the list I'll be posting shortly?
------------------ Luke Ford: "What's it like having a dick in your ass?"
Zoe: "Imagine taking your bottom lip and pulling it over the top of your head. You get used to it but it does hurt."
posted
Mobiles? Nowadays it seems as if every dog on the street has one over here.
I've had mine (an NEC DBC500, which I know no-one's ever heard of) since December '99, and it rarely gives me any trouble.
The SMS (Small Messaging Service - text messages) is dead handy also. I've a friend that should get an award for writing semi-coherent sentences using as few letters as is possible e.g. "R U GNG 4 BEER?" is one of his favourites.
Mt ringtone is a simple "brrrng-brrrng", and NOT some stupid ditty or classic-rock->MIDI shite (even though I wouldn't mind the Knight Rider theme,just to have it). I chose that one specifically because it's short and there's a decent pause between successive rings.
Americans are so far behind Europe in distributing mobile technology that it's almost beyond belief. When I was over there, it was almost a sign of affluence or dire necessity. Over here, they're being banned from secondary schools such is their all-pervading menace. At least one half of all Irish now own a mobile phone of some calibre.
Thing about those pre-paid phones (like mine) is that the peak calls cost a fortune. �0.80 for one minute @ peak times, thank you very much!!
And please post the list quickly, Mr Poet, I'd dearly love to stab some people through the eyes with red-hot pokers because of their FUCKING MIND-FREEZINGLY SHITE RING TONES!!!!
What do you mean, just "pick" one? You mean I don't get to actually do someone a mischief? Become a video nasty? Ahh...>
Charles Capps
We appreciate your concern. It is noted and stupid.
Member # 9
posted
quote:Americans are so far behind Europe in distributing mobile technology that it's almost beyond belief.
Per'aps you should drop by Sillycon Valley some time. There seems to be a cellphone in every family... At least one. We have one, used only for vehicle emergencies...
I've been looking at getting one, mainly for the voicemail. SMS'd be handy as well. (Gee, I can ICQ myself SMS messages...)
------------------ "Babies are squirmy, ugly, dirty, smelly, and noisy. They'd offend all five of my senses if I had any reason to lick one..." -- TSN, 2001.01.11 23:27, PhoenixChat
posted
The worst tone has to be what is called "Grande Valse" on mine - it's the one that goes
quote:DaDeeDaDa, DaDeeDaDa, DaDeeDaDaDaaaah
Anyone who has that should be shot on sight. Or hearing, rather.
My first phone was a Nokia 3110, or the 'Phaser' as I called it. It was a good phone, but it never really caught on, especially after the 5110 with the swappable covers appeared. I then got an Ericsson, but I hated it and gave it to my brother. Who then ran up �80 a month phone bills.
Now I have the Nokia 7110, the "Matrix" phone with WAP and the spring-loaded sliding cover (although the phones in "The Matrix" were actually modified 8110s). Excellent battery power. It's another cool phone that hasn't really caught on. I'm such a non-conformist.
I have a simple ascending ringing tone. I also have the ability to use different profiles/settings depending on where I am, so if it's noisy I put on the one that has full vibrating alert and the Imperial March, LOUD.
quote:There seems to be a cellphone in every family... At least one. We have one
Which kinda proves Gaseous' point. Here there are in fact 40 million phones (my earlier figures were incorrect) - that's two-thirds of the population. I can think of maybe 2 or 3 people who don't have a phone.
BTW: Gaseous, there is one site that does tunes, www.yourmobile.com - only I think it's only for Nokia phones, sorry.
------------------ Luke Ford: "What's it like having a dick in your ass?"
Zoe: "Imagine taking your bottom lip and pulling it over the top of your head. You get used to it but it does hurt."
posted
I've an old Motorola d520. It doesn't even have any decent tunes. Most mobiles, and all the new ones, in Ireland are digital and have pretty good coverage everywhere. As far as I know, most of the mobiles in America are analog as of yet, and the coverage isn't great. Until these change, mobile phones won't become very popular.
------------------ "I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter."
posted
It's been a good year for Nokia. I'll probably buy one of theirs soon. It's a pity you can't get good concrete evidence about the radiation, though. There's still no discerning which radiation is bad and which is harmless... Of course, it's good for the companies, they don't need to kick any models because of it. And the fucking newspapers can go on publishing "The DEFINITE guide to cellphones - These are the most dangerous"!!! Good grief... I can picture myself talking to my grandkids. "You know, in those days we didn't know jack about our gadgets, we even carried them in our pockets, hahaha... I lost my left testicle to that beeper."
------------------ Here lies a toppled god, His fall was not a small one. We did but build his pedestal, A narrow and a tall one.
posted
I've got an Audiovox CDMA flip-phone. It's a pretty sweet deal, actually. I don't use it for your basic "chat" talks, but I've got free long distance, so I use it call friends elsewhere in the States, and I use it as a personal "answering machine" (voice mail rocks).
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.83 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux *** "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier ... just as long as I'm the dictator." - George "Dubya" Bush, Dec 18, 2000
Here in the United States, there are more active Phone Numbers licensed to cell phones than there are to regular phones. That will tell you how many we have. Also, pretty much all over the US, cell phones are seen as a status symbol.
Personally, I'm apprehensive to get a cell phone. Although I would like one for emergencies(especially for my '78 For Fairmont), I don't think I'd like people to contact me anytime they want.
------------------ "You must give in to tock." - The First One
posted
Jeff, if you turn your cell off, they can't reach you
------------------ Star Trek Gamma Quadrant Average Rated 6.83 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux *** "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier ... just as long as I'm the dictator." - George "Dubya" Bush, Dec 18, 2000
posted
I have a Samsung 8500 cell phone. It's digital dual-band with nation wide coverage by Sprint PCS. This little thing's got everything on it.
-Voice activated dialing. -Wireless internet. -Phonebook. -Stores incoming/outgoing and missed phone numbers. -Calendar with a planner to schedule dates. -Calculator. -World clock, timer, alarm clock. -Caller ID. And more.
The battery lasts about 3 days before needing to be recharged. The digital network has coverage over most of the US, including Hawaii and Alaska.
It cost me $200, and I get 750 any-time minutes and long distance for $15 a month since I got it from work.
------------------ Pronouces it "Twenty-O-One" This post is sponsored in part by the Federation Starship Datalink
[This message has been edited by Hobbes (edited January 12, 2001).]
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