Phone Envy
Since VH was out of town when my new cell phone arrived — and then we were busy with other things once he returned — he didn’t get a chance to look at really check out my Samsung U740 until last night. Now, he’s got a serious case of phone envy! Lucky for him, he’s due for a free upgrade soon and I’ve little doubt he’ll be getting a phone just like mine.
That, of course, means we’ll have yet another addition to our drawer of old cell phones — locked units received from our old carrier but now useless. I thought about listing them on eBay but found that our models are so old nobody wants them. Then I called around to a couple of local charities. I recall someone telling me that women’s shelters, for instance, are usually glad to receive discarded cell phones for their clients. Apparently, our phones are so old we can’t even give them away, so the woman suggested recycling them.
But why should I recycle my cell phone? It’s so old that even local charities won’t accept it. Aren’t they just trash now?
In America, there are over 500 million unused cell phones sitting around in drawers just like mine. One cell phone in the trash probably isn’t a big problem, but all of those phones leaching lead, arsenic and mercury into landfills? That’s a massive concern.
Turns out, even with older models like ours, there are companies happy to help recycle your cell phone. Older phones are sometimes sold for use in other countries or repaired and used for replacement and pre-paid phones.
One company — CellForCash.com — has partnered with the 911 Bank to give recycled phones to those living in “at risk” situations so they can obtain emergency assistance if needed.
Puts a new meaning to “reach out and touch someone” doesn’t it?
I want a new phone, but to do that I’d need to be in an area that has more than one cell provider. I live in a sucky area! :: pouts ::
I looked at a few phones that have that “turn-the-screen-on-its-side” functionality, along with a QWERTY keyboard. For one, I found the keys too damn small. I have big hands (nudge nudge, wink wink) and I found those small keys annoying. Plus, I realized all I wanted was a phone. Not a camera, not a text messenger…simply a phone
One phone I really like is the Nokia N95…I mean, it has DVD quality video! So, if I was going with over-powered, that would be it 
Well, lacking your large hands (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), I find the QWERTY keyboard to be easy to use. For the most part, I prefer texting to talking any day — provided those I’m texting with realize it’s nothing but glorified email… so I feel no need to stop what I’m doing and respond until it suits me.
I’ve got my eye on the Samsung Synch. It comes with 200 hours a month of streaming video, like clips from The Colbert Report and stuff like that. And it looks really cool, too. Let me know how you like your phone!
*pats his old V3 RAZR*
Not being a texting person, and not being terribly concerned with pictures, and not being one who watches downloaded content, and not being one who browses the net with his phone, and… well, hell, the only things I really care about is good band coverage and Bluetooth, and since this thing covers both those bases, upgrading probably will not occur until it croaks.
However, any way you look at it, new toys are always good things
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Elizabeth, I love my phone. But, I don’t watch video on it — although the ability’s there, I just don’t want to pay extra to do it.
Linoge, I hear ya. I’m crazy about my Bluetooth headset. VH hates it — says I look like a dork when I’m wearing it, but it makes talking on the phone SO much more convenient.
Oh, there is no doubt that wearing a Bluetooth headset (even some of the smaller Plantronic ones) makes you look like a wannabe Borg inductee, but being able to leave my phone in a central location in the apartment, while having both hands free, and no wires to worry about tangling up in… yeah, that is worth the fashion gauche-ness.
Yeah, I cheaped out and bought a Plantronic. I use mine mostly at home, and with all the Wi-fi stuff connected around here I can’t get too far from it. Don’t know that name-brand Bluetooth would be much better, though.
Huh, I use a Plantronics Discovery 655, and never really have had an issue with range… My old Logitech whatever-the-hell (one of their first variants) had a little better range, but it was also twice the size. I use wifi at home exclusively, and when I am right on top of the router, it all goes to hell (and the same for the microwave, oddly enough), but otherwise, relatively smooth sailing.
My only complaint is that, as with every headset I have tried, it always seems to pick up background noise over my own voice, but people have a hard time hearing me in person, so I guess that follows.