Cell Phone Stupidity

See what happens when two nitwits get so distracted on the cell phones that they don't know what's in front of them. This is a funny look at cell phones and how people sometimes talk about nothing, sometimes are loud, and sometimes get into accidents.

Cell Phone - watch more funny videos

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CELL PHONE REUNION! (HILARIOUS)

Really funny cell phone video!

This will make you laugh.

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Cell Phone Only Households Going Up...35.8% of Households Now Cell Only

The latest data (pdf) from the The Center for Disease Control (via BGR) indicates that 35.8% of American households no longer have any sort of landline telephone in their homes. What's more, the data indicates that a large chunk of those who still have a landline never use it; 17% say they “received all or almost all calls on wireless telephones despite also having a landline telephone." In other words, almost 50% of american households either no longer have a landline phone, or have one but no longer use it. The CDC collects this data in order to more accurately conduct phone-based polls, since wireless only users tend to skew younger.

Although this trend makes sense it todays wireless environment....there are some who still want a POTS line in their home or business. Here are popular reasons why ....

1. Landline works. Cell phone doesn't inside concrete building.

2. Landline, even on long distance calls from the middle of the pacific ocean, usually is free of static, echo, breaking up of the voice. Of course, this is with a CORDED landline. Cordless phones are pieces of crap.

3. Landline is cheaper than cell phone. Plus, it is regulated in many cases by states PUC and thus those on fixed/low incomes are not suddenly hit with huge price increases. Landline has Lifeline for those on really low incomes.

4. Corded landline does not cause neck and head cancer particularly when used for extended conversations (2-3 hours). Plus, landline has no battery to die when having a long conversation.

5. Landline works during power outages.

6. Landline (corded only) insures privacy (not 100% privacy as nothing affords that but a lot more than cordless/cell phones).

7. Landline (corded only) allows one to pay credit card bills much more quickly and easily and more securely than using the internet.

8. Landline corded phone lasts 10-15 years with no repair needed, no worry about losing it, etc.

9. Corded landlines have NO CRAPPY batteries! One of my two landline phones has an excellent speaker phone in it that does not require batteries. The extreme inconvenience of having to very frequently recharge cell phones is a real putoff. I won't put up with that again. I did it with a cordless phone and never again I hope. It was in no way worth being able walk around (which I can do anyway with a long cord) to have to charge the battery frequently, have it go low battery while in the middle of a major conversation, struggling with constant corrosion of the battery contact terminals, etc.

10. 911 works during a power outage.

You can join a discussion on the topic here...

Cell Phone Or POTS?

No matter what your preference (or why) .... you can search and compare providers of both cell phone and landline phones here.

Cell and landline phones

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Feature Phone vs Smart Phone

Feature Phone vs Smart Phone

A "Feature Phone" is what we normally refer to as a "Dumb Phone", one that is NOT a smart phone. That "Plain Old Cell Phone"

The next step up is a "Messaging Phone". It will typically have a full keyboard for messaging, but few features of a Smart phone.

Smart Phones are the "top of the line" phones. Typically, the Apples, Blackberry, Windows PHone, and Androids. Designed to add apps and run multiple apps at the same time.

Smartphones such as Android, BlackBerry, and Apple give the owner the ability to wireless sync with email, address book, memos, and calendar. Most also have sync for Outlook, GMail, etc. They all have a full qwerty keyboard either on screen or physical. They all can be monitored by corporate IT and be made to adhere to IT policies (No camera use for example).

They typically have better screens (resolution), better cameras, and all the best features such as GPS, removable memory cards, etc.

They used to cost more, but the gap is closing quickly.

Feature phones have lesser hardware and typically do not sync with Outlook or wirelessly. Most will allow you to use as a GMail or AOL Client to read and write emails.

The biggest difference is the cost of service. Most major US Carriers will now require a minimum data plan for a smartphone.

Simply put a Feature Phones are designed for those who only need to Talk and Text ... some do more but VERY badly.

If you want ANYTHING beyond Talk & Text ... get a SmartPhone. But that is where the complexity begins as there is such a huge spectrum of SmartPhones.

To help find the right phone for you ... with exactly the features you want .... use this free online cell phone portal:

Find A Cell Phone

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BroadBand Nation: Oh The Selection – What Phone Should I Go For Next

I am one of those guys that always has the latest and greatest, meaning living on the bleeding edge – dealing with misconceived GUI’s, unforeseen bugs, and no end of frustration.

When it comes to phones, I have had the latest Windows Mobile device out there, from the old CE and PPC devices to my latest HTC Windows Mobile 6.5 phone.

I have avoided the hyped-up iPhone for one reason – I am am Microsoft geek and never the two shall meet. My friend recently showed me his latest Android phone and I think I might become the latest convert to one of the fastest growing communications interfaces out there.

My questions is, which type of phone is really the best phone for me? I would evaluate the technologies and devices on several criteria, including user interface, speed, application availability, network coverage, and coolness.

1. User Interface

For as long as I can remember, I have had a phone based on Windows, and well it is Windows. Not the slickest, rather slow, and not very inventive, but you have to admit, it takes no training to use the phone if you have ever used a computer. Having full Office apps and access to a plethora of shareware I know and love, makes purchasing a Windows device a safe choice, especially when considering support for my back-end VPN and Exchange servers.

I have dabbled in the Palm and Blackberry technologies, but never really enjoyed the interfaces, so never bought one.

No one can say the iPhone interface is not cool, and I did have iPhone envy for the first months of the initial release until I discovered SPB and the mobile shell that converts my antiquated Windows interface to something as cool as the iPhone, but with some bells and whistles that only us MS people would adore. Even the latest version of the iPhone doesn’t offer much that my shareware offers, but of course they have it all built into the core interface, which is a big plus when I have to flash my phone after loading some stupid app that I can’t remove properly.

I was a happy camper until I saw the HTC G2, I just about fell over with jealousy for the slick interface, speedy menus, and built-in applications that put my HTC Pro 2 to shame.   The simplicity, yet functionality of the new Android system is exactly what a phone should be.

2. Speed

One thing I could always say about my Windows Mobile devices – they were never speedy. Several times a week, I am rebooting it (got an app on my front page for a soft boot); constantly waiting for contact lookups; and even the interminable waiting for the phone to switch from status to keypad so I can enter my conference ID. I always assumed that when I got the newer phone, that it would be faster, only to discover that the system only got more bloated and the phone was just keeping up with the software size -- not getting any faster. I have not met an iPhone fan that has told me they think their phone is slow, so I have to assume that is only my problem.

I would expect an appliance-based device like the Blackberry to be speedy since you don’t have to deal with tons of apps to slow your device down. The Android seems to have taken an entirely new approach, starting with a slim, quick interface that lets you bloat it yourself and to your own detriment.   I have not seen an Android phone yet that is not fast.

3. Application Support

Who has the most apps in their store – that seems to be the biggest challenging all the developers. While there are numerous sites that offer Windows shareware outside of the Microsoft Store, there is no doubt that Apple’s store far out apps them all essentially 100 to 1 with over 180,000 apps compared to about 30K for Android and 2K for MS. But when it comes down to it, how many of those apps are really useful – I am guessing no more than about 50 %.

Also, the iPhone has a slight advantage of a year or more over Android for developers, so with over 5K apps being added every month, you can be sure it will be a pretty even race in the near future.

One advantage the Android store has over Apple is costs – over 50% of the Android apps are free as opposed to only 25% of the Apple apps.  I am sure that no matter what phone I went to, I could find several time-consuming apps to waste my resources and days.

4. Network Coverage

You might say I live in a cellular black hole – only Sprint works worth anything in my house, and I have tried every carrier out there. That has been the one main reason for not choosing an iPhone sooner (that and the fact that I might be converted).

Making a deal with just one carrier did not seem like the smartest thing for me, especially when the carrier chosen by Apple is horrible where I live. I also could not figure out why Apple would bring out an iPhone 4 that does not work on 4G – then again, I never understood marketing people.

With Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Palm and Android, you get to choose your carrier, not being tethered to a single choice. With Sprint deploying 4G in my area this year, I am all over the possibility of a new Android on the new network for true mobile broadband. It might be fast enough to consider getting rid of my local DSL and just tether my computers to my phone when I am home.

With having multiple carriers and phone manufactures available for wishful owners, there is no wonder why Android growth has been 886%, surpassing iPhones as a percentage of the market in September with 27% as opposed to Apples 23%.

Since I am a long-time HTC fan, I am sure the G2 will fit my needs as long as Sprint carriers it or something similar – but that is the advantage of Android – choice.

5. Cool Factor

Blackberry – nice, Windows Mobile – functional, Palm – slick, iPhone – cool, Android – Superb. I am sure you can supply your own adjectives to this exercise, but when it comes down to it, cool only gets you more people looking at your phone, not making your communications easier! I am sure a Porsche is cool, but with 4 small kids, it is not the car for me.

I see several factors pushing my decision for an Android phone, but will it turn me to the dark side or bring me into the light? Whatever the outcome, I am sure I will be sufficiently “cooled”. Luckily, phones are so cheap, I can try Android without much expense before “upgrading” to a real ‘droid phone like the G2.

No matter what my choice and reasons, feel free to comment or make suggestions. That is what this forum is all about – discussing telecom-related issues and products in an open and interesting debate.

Robert Wakefield-Carl, QoS Telesys

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