Cell Phones Networks - who do you have?

[OakLeaf]

I am sorry this is infuriating to you, but NO ONE has my cell # except my husband and kids. I think my dad might have it. So, who would call me? My kids are grown, and if they couldn't reach me, they would call the house.

What YOU do doesn't infuriate me. What my husband used to do, and my parents still do, DOES.

This is the hypothetical call I'm talking about. "Mr. Oakleaf, this is the hospital. Your wife Oakleaf was in an accident and she was airlifted here. Your number was listed as ICE in her phone (and her driver's license). We need someone to make some decisions about her care, and it would be helpful to her recovery if someone she knows were present."

Maybe you'd be fine waiting til you got home to get one of those calls about your spouse or child.. Maybe they'd be fine with you not receiving it. But one of the things I believe about my family is that it goes both ways, and that they should be available when I need them, to the same extent that I make myself available to them - and to the same extent that they make emergency help available to themselves.

[bmccasland]

I have Alltel. When I was looking for a cell phone a few years ago, they had better national coverage than the other companies. "All digital all the time" often meant no coverage in the wide open spaces of the west. I haven't bothered to change out of pure laziness. My phone works when I need it. I have discovered that I don't get coverage in the marshes of the coast, but I really don't care either. I don't know about the other companies, but after Hurricanes Katrina/Rita and Gustav/Ike, Alltel did forgive going over my minutes.

As for reaching me... that's what my home phone is for, and it has an answering machine. My cell is my secondary phone, not my primary phone. I'm one of those people that really really doesn't like being forced to listen to other people's one sided conversations, like in restaurants (yesterday). I think too many people have taken multi-tasking to a new extreme.

Just because the phone rings, doesn't mean you have to answer it. We have the power over the phone, not the other way around.

[vinbek]

I think its a personal choice. I have a cell phone for emergency use only. I don't like to talk on the phone. I don't feel obligated to be available to anyone. I have a land line at home with an answering service. This summer I took my son to a boy scout sleepover on the USS Hornet. There was not any cell service in the belly of this huge metal boat. On Sunday Morning I went up on deck to call home to get messages. There was one from my husband, who needed help. He had almost completed the Climb to Kaiser and was 10 miles from the finish and fell and broke his clavicle. Someone stopped and gave him a ride to his car. He drove home all bloody and with the use of one arm. I left my son with the scoutmaster and drove home and took my husband to the hospital. It all worked out fine. If someone dies, there isn't anything you can do - but wish you had known earlier. I learned many years ago that the only person you can control is yourself. And you can choose to act or react to other people's choices. Bekki

[Crankin]

Yes, I survived a few emergencies before cell phones! Somehow, we were able to survive (just like our parents who never wore seat belts or put us in car seats;only kidding). If my phone isn't on, they can call home and leave a message and I'll get it. My husband does not have ICE in his phone, but he does have HOME. Well, HE leaves his phone on 24 hours a day, so I guess that makes up for my lack of wanting to communicate.

[surgtech1956]

Everyone I know who has a cell phone has it on, except DGF. I guess its a personal choice, if you have a cell phone and only want to use it for emergencies fine, except if someone is trying to reach you because of an emergency, so much for that idea. Most of the time I am either at work or at home.

[DDH]

We have AT&T family plan and we have great coverage here.

I get upset with my sister at times when she turns her phone off, mainly because if hers is off and something happens with her children, like they are sick and want to go home, or need something for a headache or minor things, then it's me they call and I am expected to take care of it.
My sister only has a cell phone so I have no way to call her, hence I end up being the one that has to take care of things. All the while she is home taking a nap!!!

I don't get upset about people not answering (except my sister) so much, but I get more upset about the fact that when I don't answer folks seem to get irritated with me. Now mind you, it's seldom I don't answer my phone. I have a child in school, and lots of things going on, so even when I am not sure of a number I answer my phone. On the rare occasion I'm taking a shower or doing something else in the bathroom, or I'm outside hanging clothes or mowing, and my phone rings where I cannot get to it, I do not expect to get the third degree because I didn't answer my phone one time out of 20 calls. That upsets me more than anything, and my husband tends to be the worst. LOL
He will call my cell, then call the house and then leave a irritated msg about how I didn't answer my phone and now I'm not answering the house phone either. Now that my friends, is annoying. I just shake my head and go on. What else can you do. LOL

[Crankin]

I just realized that when I said I like the phone for emergencies, but I rarely have it on, I meant if I had emergency.
I refused to give up our land line; I don't trust that 911 would work with a cell phone... I don't really like having voip for the land line, either. But, my husband, who is all things technical overrode me on this one.
Personally, I wish we didn't have all these decisions to make about something like a phone. I have been sort of watching the other students when I am in Cambridge for my grad. classes. Almost every single person, up to about age 35 always has his/her phone in hand and is looking at it when walking down the street or sitting and eating. I just figured out they are texting. Everyone seems to pull out their phone as soon as they are let out of class.
I guess I just don't like to talk on the phone. Nor do I have anything to say to that many people. I have to think most of these conversations are inconsequential. I am not trying to be flip, but why does everyone feel the need to be talking all of the time? I mean, I am very social in that I always make plans with friends, go out to eat, ride, etc. I'm not a loner. But, it just seems weird to me. Productivity at work must be suffering because of this.
OK, I'm off of my soapbox. I guess I'm just a cranky old lady.

[OakLeaf]

He will call my cell, then call the house and then leave a irritated msg about how I didn't answer my phone and now I'm not answering the house phone either. Now that my friends, is annoying.

My house phone is always forwarded to my cell. Everyone I know knows this, but my mom still insists on leaving messages on "both" numbers when I'm not answering (usually for the same reasons as you... or riding the motorcycle). That is annoying.

[SadieKate]

Crankin, I'm with you about people on cell phones all the time but that is not the fault of the phone.

DDH, how old are your sister's children? If they aren't too young, why can't they wait for their mother? She's obviously training all of you very well.

Oakleaf, my SIL used to call our house, my cell, my husband's cell, my work, every number she had and leave the same GD inconsequential non-important message. I forget what we finally told her that worked but it was through gritted teeth and a forced smile. Sheesh. The other thing we told her was that we didn't take calls from blocked phone numbers so she was creating her own problem and to deal with it.