Last American (Wireless) Virgin

I want a cellphone more function, and I couldn't care about a designer's version of looks or trendiness. I like the FM radio, MP3 player and camera, but the buttons on my phone are poorly designed and hard to use, because they were designed for looks.

I want better volume on the handset and headset.

I dropped my landline and I want a mobile phone that can be plugged into a base station for charging that will also ring & flash to show incoming calls, so I don't have to wear the phone all the time. Even better, a base station with a good wireless handset that's more comfortable to use.

I'm over 50, and love the features, but need additional features that meet my needs.

I live in Costa Rica and my monthly cell phone bill is usually less than $8 month. Why is it so much cheaper here than the USA? How can they (the country) provide this service so cheaply?

OR maybe the USA cell providers are grossly overcharging???

What many of you seem to be overlooking is that cell phone numbers are NOT published; therefore, ONLY people you allow to have your number may call you. Just because you have a cell phone to use in case your car plunges down a ravine with you in it, or you have a blow-out on a deserted stretch of highway and no spare tire, doesn't mean that you have to be constantly yoked to your entire group of family, friends, or co-workers. If you need minimal services, great..... buy only minimal services. If you don't want the phone to ring, then don't give out your number or use your cell to call others unless absolutely necessary. but don't discount the advantage of having a means of emergency communication. Remember, many... and likely most... land lines today are serviced by wireless phones, which will not work if the electricity is out. Cells don't have to rule your life just because you have one with you: it's called self-discipline, folks. The option to give out your number is yours.

Tip - Get your hands on an old cell phone. BY LAW all cells phones, even though those without contracts or other paid time on them, must connect too 9-1-1 when dialed. That takes care of the "you need one for emergencies" group, and even better, it's FREE!

I think the Body Shop collects old cell phones for women in shelters or others sxcaping abusive husbands can have one on hand to call emergency services to deal with stalking, violation of restraining orders, child kidnapping, break-ins, etc.

I don't want a life so complicated that I need to be reachable at all times. I have an answering machine, its good enough. I'm very computer literate and have a degree in physics, so I understand the technology and the convenience yet I decline to pay that much for what to me is an annoyance.

I don't want a life so complicated that I need to be reachable at all times. I have an answering machine, its good enough. I'm very computer literate and have a degree in physics, so I understand the technology and the convenience yet I decline to pay that much for what to me is an annoyance.

Wow, I am pleased that there are some others that reject cell hell. I once went to a party hosted by the engineering group at a Ritz Carlton where I worked. After having two fairly interesting conversation with a couple of engineers interrupted by their cells, I moved on to find others to talk to. Looking around the room I noticed that about half of the people there were talking to someone on their cells. I saw a particular engineer I wanted to talk to so I pulled out my cell and called him across the room. I interrupted his conversation with another engineer and felt very satisfied!!!

Personally, I hate the G.D things. It's just another way of screwing the publick into thinking it's a necessity!
Next year they will be grafting the phucking things onto dumba$$ americans heads!

And here I thought I was the only financially secure adult left in the USA who did not have a cell phone out of my own choice . . . nice to see there's a lot of us out there, even if we didn't rate discussion in the article. I used to have a cell instead of a landline but once I got married that didn't work, since my husband didn't want a cell either.

Sounds like a pretty cool phone to me!
www.FireMe.To/udi

lol nice article... too bad it doesnt include the people who'd rather invest there money in the stock market than flush it down a toilet.

In regards to my earlier comment, I would add that I am not elderly, juvenile, poor, have bad credit. I am saddened to see so many people believe that they must be connected by cell phones. The old phones work just fine and I have the internet to learn of all the bad news. I am financially secure and finding some peace on this planet is getting harder to do. The last thing I need is a $300 cell phone and ten tears down the road realizing that I have spent 10,000 dollars or more yaking on the phone!

I have become a member of a very small group of "excellulars". I am no longer slave to these electronic yokes and I am a thousand dollars a year richer (that was a basic plan). I cannot be summoned at a moments notice and I do not need the everywhere anytime communication anymore. I am not a danger behind the wheel with my mind somewhere else. I do not rudely interrupt a conversation to answer my phone. I do not poke a little eye straining keys to text anyone, I do not need or download ring tones silly games or music, Now I am really better connected naturally, than I was before....

Are these statistics real? Is the 85% "market penetration" just like the >100% "market penetration" in Europe and Asia? Or do 85% of the people in the US really have a cell phone? And which people? Surely they aren't counting newborns in this statistic, but Mr. McGinn doesn't indicate what the cutoff age is for the statistic. So, do "Nearly 1 in 7 Americans Still Lack Cell Phones", or is this one of those manipulated statistics to try to get people to click on the article?

Here's another issue. Cell companies have a bunch of add-ons text fees, web browsing fees, all of which add up to big bills for consumers. Maybe they would do better not trying to get top fee dollars for otions that are free in Europe. Maybe if they weren't so greedy they would have more coverage.

Um...I am NOT a prison inmate, NOT elderly, do NOT have bad credit, and NOT a child. I am simply someone who doesn't believe those who say "I have one in case of emergencies." Give me a break. Although they do get used for emergencies, 95 percent of their use seems to be those who are shopping and can't stand being alone for 2 minutes, or commuters at 6 AM (who the hell are they talking to at 6 AM?)

Why is it so hard to believe or understand that some folks simply do not want a cell phone?
While some people may not be able to afford one, some of us really do not want one. Really.

Why is it so hard to believe that some folks just don't want a cell phone? While there are some people who simply can't afford one, some of us really just don't want one. Really.