Forced To Buy A Cell Phone?

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
My condo is changing the gate access technology and said it will not work with land lines. They will give the details as they come. Judging from what I have seen so far nearly everyone has a cell phone.
 

The digital world has slowly been forced on society... regardless of age or technical literacy. We had a lot of issues in our community getting the elderly signed up for COVID vaccination. Appointments needed done on line. Many had no idea how to access the forms and how to fill them out on line.
Grocery stores implemented "pick list" protocol so people could order groceries on line and pick them up without entering the stores. This allowed those most at risk to remain out of crowded stores. The elderly had difficulty learning how to do the ordering on line.
So many things do require a cell phone. I spent yesterday afternoon working with one of my wife's elderly friends. She had her contacts so messed in her cell phone she was calling one person thinking it was another. Calls would come in from ABC and she would answer as if it was DEF... because that's what showed up on her home screen.
I was one of the "lucky" ones. My career required me to be computer literate and use cell phones and laptops daily. My wife has done a commendable job of navigating the digital world. We're forced into it as things like you condo access, etc. requires a wireless phone. Technology has brought us so many blessings. Yet, as many have aged and let the digital world pass them by, they are at a distinct disadvantage.
 

I’m happy that I finally hopped across the divide and traded my flip phone for an iPhone.

The iPhone serves as a backup to my laptop and allows me to do the most important things in the event that my laptop or internet connection fails.

These days I use very few voice minutes compared to the data charges.

The charges for both voice and data on my Consumer Cellular bill are still less than my landline bill was when I dropped it 10 years ago.

Jump in the water’s fine!
 
Listen to Aunt Bea. Get as good a quality and extensive a plan as you can afford. It can be your security backup if you have a health emergency.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Jump in the water’s fine!
Click to expand...
I really need to jump in a deeper spot in the pool with my phone. For years I had a hand-me-down smart phone from my then teenage daughter and I only used texting. When I went to Europe a few years ago I bought a much better refurbished smart phone for my trip and used the maps a lot (especially because it showed me as a moving blue dot on the map and that was how I'd find my way around Paris streets). But I really want to learn how to get it to tell me driving directions out loud while I drive, that will be so useful post-pandemic post-retirement when I hope to travel around the country.

How much data does the average person go through each month? My current $10 / mth plan has only a teensy bit of data, but they have add-ons and other packages that have more, but I'm not sure what I would need for having driving directions.
 
fmdog44 said:
My condo is changing the gate access technology and said it will not work with land lines. They will give the details as they come. Judging from what I have seen so far nearly everyone has a cell phone.
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I'm happy to know you're rolling with the change, FM, because I'd be some livid.

Technology is fine and dandy related to helping make our lives better, but when it comes to technological changes and advances/improvements, no one should ever feel obligated and forced into acquiring a personal electronic device to aid in servicing such changes brought on by someone else's doing.
 
debodun said:
I don't have a cell phone. I'm not such a big shot or gave people with whom I have to be in constant communication. I figure that if someone has to contact me by phone, let them leave a message, or do what we did th in old days - call back some other time.
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What if you break down on the road Deb?
 
HoneyNut said:
I really need to jump in a deeper spot in the pool with my phone. For years I had a hand-me-down smart phone from my then teenage daughter and I only used texting. When I went to Europe a few years ago I bought a much better refurbished smart phone for my trip and used the maps a lot (especially because it showed me as a moving blue dot on the map and that was how I'd find my way around Paris streets). But I really want to learn how to get it to tell me driving directions out loud while I drive, that will be so useful post-pandemic post-retirement when I hope to travel around the country.

How much data does the average person go through each month? My current $10 / mth plan has only a teensy bit of data, but they have add-ons and other packages that have more, but I'm not sure what I would need for having driving directions.
Click to expand...
Look at the plans offered by Consumer Cellular. The app allows you to check your usage at any time during the month and they allow you to switch plans at any time during the billing cycle. https://www.consumercellular.com/shopping/choose/plan

I usually opt for 3GB of data for $30/mo but some months I bump it up to 10GB for $40/mo if I'm doing a lot of searches or just using more data because I've been bored waiting at the laundrette, auto repair shop, etc...

Good luck!
 
The luddite in me was resistant to the continuing changes technology is bringing into your lives. Strangely enough I worked in telecommunications yet had no desire to jump on the bandwagon and even ignored the many different phones the company gave us to use on and off the job. Finally they offered an employee discount on iPhones shortly before I retired and it just seemed to make sense. I appreciate the convenience but am certainly not tied to the darn thing. I use it mostly for texting although the little keys drive me crazy. :cool:
 
I was happy with a flip phone until I needed to respond to a text. While flying for Angel Flight I had needs to contact the patient or the office.
Having to push a button 3 times to type a "C" got old really quickly. I got an inexpensive smartphone with Tracfone, which is a pay as you go plan.
 
Yes, I as well. Now, of course those pay phones have all but disappeared. Plus the creepy predators are more prominent these "dazes". I hate being paranoid but it makes sense to stay safe. Heck I've known of people pulling over to help a stranded motorist (something I always do . . . ) who have gotten attacked by the very same motorist or their accomplices hiding nearby. :mad:
 
a million years ago, sil told me about ???-company what GAVE you a "car phone"... remember "bag" phones? she was adamant that i just HAD to get one... had recently divorced HER brother and often out alone! it cost you every time you used it. you made a call, you paid... you received a call, you paid... person you called pid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Bag_Phone

it quickly became apparent that i was one of those who couldn't "walk & chew gum" at the same time. upgrade from that was a massive flip
phone.

too frugal (cheap) and financially challenged to get sucked all the wsy in. have had several cell phones over the years. current is a Tracfone. the phone is "smart" (an android lesser nme) and cost me $9.99! a years worth of "service (includes some data and texts)... about $10/month.

IF i hear it ring, i never race to answer. i'm never expecting a call, so if it's important, caller will leave a message.
 
fmdog44 said:
My condo is changing the gate access technology and said it will not work with land lines. They will give the details as they come. Judging from what I have seen so far nearly everyone has a cell phone.
Click to expand...
Whilst I do have a cell phone, I don't let others know. It's a so called smart phone. Too damn smart for me, go on line with it? Well I can take it on a train, that's on line, isn't it? I also have, but don't let on, a smart land line. I need that to evaluate incoming calls. It's also necessary for most auto, computer generated, voice activated, extremely annoying, answering services. Those where a synthetic voice tells you to press one for the money, two for the show.

When I hear those sort of voices I just remain silent. Synthetic voice sounds a tad hissy, "I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Let's try again." Eventually a real voice responds, inevitably I'm asked, "Is there a problem?" Of course there is, You can't dial one or the money, two for the show, because it simply cuts you off if you try. Something to do with a rotary dial telephone.

I have, but don't use email, I wouldn't be allowed on this forum without it. But I never use it. "How do you communicate?" I get asked. "By mail, how else?" That's a hand written letter and believe me, that never fails to get a response. Maybe it's my handwriting:
script 001.JPG
 

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