Thursday, August 19, 2010

CELL NO!!!

There is definitely no slow to the progression of the technological fad of cell phones... from games to social networking to an overall app war.

But who's really in control??

The service providers... no matter what it is that you want to do, where you need to call or who you need to get in touch with... they are the ones that not only make it possible, but determine how much you're going to pay for it. And unfortunately, we're all paying for it.

There's no need for them to play the game of who's cheaper, especially when some big companies currently have a monopoly on this decades most wanted product... the iphone. This is not about AT&T, although I'm sure much has been written on their mishaps... but, me... I've been a loyal T-Mobile customer for more years than people spend in one kind of car!

Ahhhh T-mobile... you've got great options for plans. Seemingly low prices with a completely confusing website that breaks down your usage ability and its costs. So you purchase the phone and plan... and begin to use away. Only to receive a ridiculous bill later...

roaming charge! -- but i haven't even left my house?? ...
Overage on Data!!!-- but I thought I had unlimited data??
Roaming on data!!!! -- what the heck does unlimited mean??
International charges! -- i have the international plan??
International Roaming! -- what's the difference!??!

I've spent MANY MANY hours talking to representatives who work for T-mobile who don't even understand the website breakdown OR their own policies on prices/packaging.
In the SAME phone call I was transferred to three different representatives who gave me three different answers to the same questions!

If I could ever keep it real with T-mobile, it would say this:
Don't be greedy... phones have become more of a necessity to people than an accessory, your excessive charges are making a bad name for your company, keep it simple. There's a reason your price options and packages keep changing. Why does everyone love in-n-out burger? Because it's reliable, consistent, menu never changes! If your plans and programs never changed, we would all know exactly what we were getting into, because you would never change. Also, train your staff!!!!! I can't blame them for not knowing the new policies and prices, they're changing every month. New price package, new charges, etc.

I could go on for awhile... but I'd like to get to the point...

I'm going to see how long I can go WITHOUT a cell phone. I know it seems extreme, but with computer access, I will have that to fall back on :)

yes, i said it.

Today marks the end of DAY ONE WITHOUT CELL...

At first, it was easy... i was mad at my phone and the service provider, so i just pushed it aside and hid behind my computer for hours... my facebook updates could show you exactly how long!

Later I just held my phone in my hand, like the friend I knew I was about to lose, but wanted to keep closer for sentimental reasons. It doesn't even tell me the time anymore...

Towards the end... i pushed buttons... not to do anything, but just because I was used to the auto mechanics of button pressing... and need to get it's habitual fix for the day.
that's it...

END OF DAY ONE COMPLETE.
...

I don't know how long i'll last, but that's part of the mission... to see how long a cell phone addict can go without.