# Do you own a cellphone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623 "2013-09-25T05:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/61 "2016-02-09T05:44:16Z")
I first got one during a period when we only had one car and it was very helpful to be able to coordinate things such as being picked up after work. My current phone is the most basic model I could get - doesn’t even have a camera. My wife and daughters send me texts, so presumably I could text them back, but I have no idea how to go about it. I have maybe a half-dozen phone numbers in it; if anyone else calls (ie, if I open it and all I see is a phone number, not a name) I don’t answer. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/62 "2016-02-09T06:26:19Z")
I’ve had a cell phone since 1999. I needed it while planning my divorce. I recently acquired a smartphone (my dumb phone went missing) and I hate it and will be replacing it with the dumbest phone I can find. All I need is the ability to call 911 and the vet if something goes wrong while Pooch and I are out walking or when the power goes out. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/63 "2016-02-09T10:56:35Z")
No cell phone. No plan to acquire one. Can’t really see a need. Have a mini tablet with a free texting client that allows me to text, without cost, from anywhere in the world. Don’t really need more than that, it seems to meet all of my needs, to be honest. Text, email, photos, etc. Of course, every single person around me does have a cell phone, including my hubby. So when we’re in the car we’re good, etc, not exactly ‘at risk’ in any way. I’m pretty sure there’s also mucho ‘risk reduction’ in every person nearby, at any given moment, having a phone, in case of a true emergency! Do I really need one, at hand, every second, if literally every person you see surely has one on them? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/64 "2016-02-09T12:22:22Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Sorry, not Lumina brand but rather Lava brand. Does it run Android? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/65 "2016-02-09T15:16:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Does it run Android? Yes, it does. It’s [this phone here](http://www.ais.co.th/supercombo/iris550/en/). The Lava Iris 550 model. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/66 "2016-02-09T15:30:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Yes, it does. It’s [this phone here](http://www.ais.co.th/supercombo/iris550/en/). The Lava Iris 550 model. Nice! Looks like a Samsung Galaxy knockoff? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/67 "2016-02-09T15:31:53Z")
Probably. Thais so the best knock-offs. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/68 "2016-02-09T15:37:04Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Of course, every single person around me does have a cell phone, including my hubby. So when we’re in the car we’re good, etc, not exactly ‘at risk’ in any way. > > I’m pretty sure there’s also mucho ‘risk reduction’ in every person nearby, at any given moment, having a phone, in case of a true emergency! Do I really need one, at hand, every second, if literally every person you see surely has one on them? So, basically, you have “herd immunity” to ever being out of touch with the world? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/69 "2016-02-09T16:13:51Z")
Exactly! ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/70 "2016-02-09T17:16:03Z")
I answered NO but I actually do. My friend gave me her un-needed Obama-phone, and told me I have to make a call on it every month, to keep it active. So I make a call on it every month. If I ever need a cellphone, I’ll have one, but I’ve never needed it. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/71 "2016-02-11T02:32:25Z")
I think the more relevant auestion wiuld be who still has a landline. It seems most people I know have transitioned to cellular only. A bone of contention with my family is that, after being insanely late to the cell game by their standards (I got one only when work insisted), I still treat it like a landline and leave it at home. Following the same pattern, I’m looking at getting my first smart phone this week, as work is moving to some apps for notifications and updates and you need a smart phone to use them. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/72 "2016-02-11T03:45:40Z")
Own – yes. Use – no. Last year I used about 30-40 minutes for the entire year. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/73 "2016-02-11T03:46:45Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I think the more relevant auestion wiuld be who still has a landline. Me. And if you actually want to talk to me in the next three to six months, you better use that number. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/74 "2016-02-11T12:50:17Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I think the more relevant auestion wiuld be who still has a landline. My gf has kept a landline for the _maybe_ once a year need when one of our house/pet sitters spends a week. The phone’s ringer is kept shut off. I pointed out that we could buy a burner and the sitter could use it, thus saving money plus adding the ability to traffic in narcotics. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/75 "2016-02-11T16:56:53Z")
We still have our landline. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/76 "2016-02-11T18:45:37Z")
It depends on what you mean by “landline”. We sort of have one: VoIP service with voip.ms. The cost is incredibly low. (We laugh at the cable company commercials bragging about their low $30/month VoIP service. $30? Per _month_? Good grief.) The big plus is that we have phones scattered throughout the house and when it rings we’re near one. Don’t have to worry about searching for a cell phone or worrying about charging. Also, dialers know they are calling _us_. No need to try one person’s number and then the others. A couple months ago I finally got a cell phone (done my weird way, of course). Outside of test calls I haven’t used it once as a phone. I stuff it in my coat pocket when I go somewhere and take it out when I get home. It’s practically a security blanket. If it wasn’t a nice Android smart device with WiFi I’d basically never use it at all. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/77 "2016-02-11T20:51:00Z")
We still have a land line. Cell signal at our house just isn’t very good (though it works). And, for chatting/visiting I much prefer the clarity of a landline, no mater how good the cell connection is. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/78 "2016-02-11T21:02:49Z")
I have one, for two reasons; to have in my car in case of an emergency, and to take with me on trips once I discovered that the lack of pay phones seems to be nationwide. A few years ago, I was at the Hyatt next to the Convention Center in Columbus, and went into the “telephone nook” (the area through an archway in the wall with “Telephones” above it), only to discover that all that remained were hotel courtesy phones. Most of the time, it’s turned off. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/79 "2016-02-11T21:11:45Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I have one, for two reasons; to have in my car in case of an emergency, and to take with me on trips once I discovered that the lack of pay phones seems to be nationwide. A few years ago, I was at the Hyatt next to the Convention Center in Columbus, and went into the “telephone nook” (the area through an archway in the wall with “Telephones” above it), only to discover that all that remained were hotel courtesy phones. Most of the time, it’s turned off. And the charges to use your room phone are pretty high. Even for local calls. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623/80 "2016-02-11T21:24:54Z")
I made the switch to cell once it was cheaper to have DSL and a cell than a landline and dialup. I have a refillable rollover plan that ends up costing like $10 a month. I have a smartphone but do not have a data plan and so rely on Wi-Fi. I will make the switch to a smartphone data plan once it is cheaper than a cheap rollover plan + DSL and I can use the smartphone’s data for my home’s wifi for my desktop and laptop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cellphone/669623.md?page=3)