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THE BATTALII
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ew transfer
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The conference
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demic colleges al
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The Battalion
Page 3A • Thursday, September 18, 2003
FOR WHOM THE CELL TOLLS
Cell phone usage affects different areas of student life
By Crystal Polasek
THE BATTALION
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They can be heard all over campus, from simple tones to orches
trated melodies. With the latest downloads, some even play “The
Aggie War Hymn." Though the tunes vary, they are unmistakable
— the sounds of mobile communication. The rings of cell phones
have become as frequent in College Station as the whistles of pass
ing trains.
Erin Brown, a junior applied exercise physiology
major, said among other reasons, she likes to use her
.cell phone because of its convenience.
, “Also, my dad travels a lot and with free long-dis
tance, I can call him wherever he is in the country,”
■Brown said.
According to estimates from the Federal
Communications Commission, as many as 68 percent
of U.S. residents who are between the ages of 18 and
24 own a cell phone. Among that demographic, 15
percent do not even have a land line at home.
“I try to use my land line when I can, but I usually
reach for my cell phone if I can’t remember the phone
number 1 want to dial,” Brown said. “All my numbers
are saved in my cell phone.”
Though she uses her mobile phone often. Brown
said she gets frustrated when she sees people neglect
ing to use proper phone etiquette.
"1 hate it when people talk on the phone in a restaurant or on the
bus. You can hear their whole conversation and it interrupts whatev
er you were doing,” she said.
As the number of cell phones increases, public interruptions have
become frequent, even in the classroom.
“It’s rude when someone’s cell phone rings in class,” said Janika
Simms, a freshman education major. “I think a lot of professors are
tired of hearing them, and students don't appreciate it either. It
breaks everybody's concentration.”
The convenience and accessibility that come with cell phones
also come with hidden annoyances.
Cell phones let people contact each other anytime and anywhere,
but the conversations carried out on cell phones can occur at inap
propriate times.
Michelle Courier, a junior community health major, said live
conversation with friends can become frustrating when a cell phone
‘is added to the equation.
“I can’t stand it when I am standing right there in front of some
one and they start talking on their cell phone,” Courier said. “Even
if they walk away. I still have to wait for them to get off the phone
so we can (continue) talking. It’s the most frustrating thing 1 can
think of.”
Aside from choosing when and where to chat, there are Financial
disadvantages of talking too much. Nicole Woodward, a sophomore
international studies major, said her mobile conversations have
come with a large price tag.
“My cellular phone bills are outrageous!” Woodward said. “I’ve
had cell phone bills over $200 before, and I know it’s because I use
more daytime minutes than nighttime and weekend
minutes. Most of the calls I make are those I
need to make, not social calls. Since I’m
never home I have to rely on my cell
phone every day.”
Shaik Rahman,
president of Wireless
Solutions Corporation,
said unlike most fads,
the cell phone craze is
more than a mere trend.
“Eventually, people
are not going to use land
lines anymore,” Rahman
said. “Cell phones will be
cheaper. Here in Bryan-
College Station, our company
activates five to seven new
phones per day, and about half
are for college students.”
With the increasing market,
wireless phone companies have
been engaging in extreme competition, advertising
new plans weekly and trying to offer deals that are
cost-effective, in order to outdo other companies
and gain customers.
Cingular Wireless offers “rollover minutes”
in which unused minutes from one pay period can
be used in the next period. Nextel offers free
long-distance without roaming charges.
Jared Harris, salesperson for Verizon
Wireless, said the new wireless deals
available can easily overwhelm
shoppers who are on the
lookout for a plan.
Harris said it
difficult to find a
ii
It’s rude when
someone’s cell
phone rings in class
... It breaks
everybody’s
concentration.
—Erin Brown
junior applied exercise
physiology major
cell-phone contract lasting less than a year because users often want
to change companies to get the best deal.
“Most of the calls I receive are from people asking how our plans
compare to another company’s plans,” he said. “It matters how long
(one) intends to talk, what time of day, where they are and where
they’re going. Now, the big concern regarding safety is how they use
the phone while driving.”
In 2000, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported 716
traffic accidents in the state during the year that were likely
attributed to using cell phones while driving. In 2002,
TOPS reported that drivers who talk on their cell phones
have a 34 percent greater chance of being involved in a
collision than those who do not.
“It bothers me when I see people driving (while) on
their cell phone,” said David Ogura, a senior history
major. “It puts other people in danger. There are sim
ply places people should never use cell phones.”
Many students at Texas A&M feel strongly about
this danger and would prefer that cell-phone users seek
alternatives to talking and driving, or at least keep both
hands on the wheel while talking.
“People could at least get a hands-free set to use on the
road,” said Rich Hamlin, a College Station resident. “There are
so many other distractions already: the radio, CD player, air-
conditioning controls. It’s just not safe to be thinking about
talking instead of driving.”
Road safety concerns have some retailers urging the use of
hands-free headsets. Some cellular phone businesses, such as
Rahman’s, offer free headsets to students with a valid Texas driv
er license. Rahman said he hopes the offer will keep the high
ways safer.
“Cell phones can be helpful if someone is lost or has car
trouble on the highway, but it is more important to be safe at all
costs,” he said.
Rahman said hands-free devices are an example of safer
advancements for cellular communication. He anticipates
new technology will make cell phones necessary rather than
convenient.
“By satellite connection, soon people will be tracked and
found wherever they are on earth,” Rahman said. “Phones
already have mp3 players, cameras and are
connected to the Internet. The sky’s the
limit. We will continue to
improve, making cell phone
l:--i|4;: (use) safer and more
jgjgjgfc,^ advanced.”
, Seth Freeman
‘J . • THE BATTALION
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