Comments on: Texting Troubles – What’s a parent to do? http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:54:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Marc http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33666 Marc Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:10:37 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33666 I couldn't agree more, the best choice is definitely prepaid. But if you've got a family plan anyway, unlimited texting can be as low as $5/mo, if not already included. I couldn’t agree more, the best choice is definitely prepaid. But if you’ve got a family plan anyway, unlimited texting can be as low as $5/mo, if not already included.

]]> By: Claire Strodtbeck http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33643 Claire Strodtbeck Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:06:46 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33643 @Marc: While I agree that most kids don't need a free cell phone, consider how much the add-ons can end up costing. At $20 per line (and you're already paying at least $10 per line to have a family plan), if you have more than one kid, it's going to add up fast. I think that prepaid is the way to go with kids. It forces responsibility on them - they <b>can't</b> go over, because once they run out of minutes, the phone just quits working. @Marc: While I agree that most kids don’t need a free cell phone, consider how much the add-ons can end up costing. At $20 per line (and you’re already paying at least $10 per line to have a family plan), if you have more than one kid, it’s going to add up fast.

I think that prepaid is the way to go with kids. It forces responsibility on them – they can’t go over, because once they run out of minutes, the phone just quits working.

]]> By: Marc http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33618 Marc Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:04:06 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33618 if paying the extra few dollars for a plan or add-on with unlimited texting is too much for you... let's be honest.. you shouldn't be paying for a cell phone for your kid. Parents like this baffle me. if paying the extra few dollars for a plan or add-on with unlimited texting is too much for you… let’s be honest.. you shouldn’t be paying for a cell phone for your kid. Parents like this baffle me.

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33615 Mark Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:04:54 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33615 @blacknimbus Cell phone jammers should be mandatory in classrooms. :-) I think this whole "gotta have a cell phone in school" thing came about after the Columbine massacre. Its too bad that it has come to this because there really is very litttle need for cell phones in class rooms. @blacknimbus
Cell phone jammers should be mandatory in classrooms. :-)

I think this whole “gotta have a cell phone in school” thing came about after the Columbine massacre. Its too bad that it has come to this because there really is very litttle need for cell phones in class rooms.

]]> By: Blacknimbus http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33604 Blacknimbus Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:21:32 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33604 They make cell phone jammers, Mark. Just don't let them catch you using it. ;) They make cell phone jammers, Mark. Just don’t let them catch you using it. ;)

]]> By: Claire http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33602 Claire Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:13:49 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33602 @Mark: I wholeheartedly agree. I attended a small private school K-12, so the rules were a bit different. Students were not allowed to have <b>any</b> electronic devices out during the school day, including cell phones, computers, CD players (ah yes...the days before the iPod...), or even GameBoys. Amazingly, students survived. We were allowed to use the main office phone for local calls if there was some kind of emergency, but that was it. I'm surprised schools don't take a stricter stance on banning phones and other such devices from the classroom. @Mark: I wholeheartedly agree. I attended a small private school K-12, so the rules were a bit different. Students were not allowed to have any electronic devices out during the school day, including cell phones, computers, CD players (ah yes…the days before the iPod…), or even GameBoys. Amazingly, students survived. We were allowed to use the main office phone for local calls if there was some kind of emergency, but that was it. I’m surprised schools don’t take a stricter stance on banning phones and other such devices from the classroom.

]]> By: Phil http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33600 Phil Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:29:43 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33600 About communications devices used at/in school. Yes, I agree that it's not a good thing to allow students to do this instead of participating in class activities. However... When I was in school, calculators, erasable ink pens, and spiral-bound note pads (to list a few items), were not allowed. Things change and it's part of the teaching community's responsibility to see these changes and incorporate them into their curriculum. You have two choices. Remove the devices as my teachers (and parents) did, or allow them and integrate them into the class structure... but chose one of these and stop filling the Internet with the complaining. Phil About communications devices used at/in school. Yes, I agree that it’s not a good thing to allow students to do this instead of participating in class activities.
However…
When I was in school, calculators, erasable ink pens, and spiral-bound note pads (to list a few items), were not allowed. Things change and it’s part of the teaching community’s responsibility to see these changes and incorporate them into their curriculum. You have two choices. Remove the devices as my teachers (and parents) did, or allow them and integrate them into the class structure… but chose one of these and stop filling the Internet with the complaining.

Phil

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33599 Mark Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:12:07 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33599 As a high school chemistry teacher, cell phones are the bane of the classroom. Girls keep their hands in their purses to hide their texting activities, boys keep their hands under the desk. It gets to the point where I want to smash the damned things. These kids are so addicted that they get violent if you confiscate them. Schools should have the right to block cell signals. Cell phones have no place there. As a high school chemistry teacher, cell phones are the bane of the classroom. Girls keep their hands in their purses to hide their texting activities, boys keep their hands under the desk. It gets to the point where I want to smash the damned things. These kids are so addicted that they get violent if you confiscate them. Schools should have the right to block cell signals. Cell phones have no place there.

]]> By: Jackie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33588 Jackie Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:06:34 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33588 You might want to try the PEEK which now supports unlimited txt msg. It's an email only device so no IMs. And it's a flat rate $19.95 a month for unlimited emails and txt msg. It uses cellular frequency provided by tmobile so it doesn't have to rely on being near wifi. I gave one to my cousin and he loves it. Pretty much like a blackberry but without the phone function. <a href="www.getpeek.com" rel="nofollow">getpeek.com</a> You might want to try the PEEK which now supports unlimited txt msg. It’s an email only device so no IMs. And it’s a flat rate $19.95 a month for unlimited emails and txt msg. It uses cellular frequency provided by tmobile so it doesn’t have to rely on being near wifi. I gave one to my cousin and he loves it. Pretty much like a blackberry but without the phone function. getpeek.com

]]> By: Chad http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33587 Chad Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:47:15 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33587 Another device worth a look at is the Peek. It works off cellular coverage and has fixed monthly cost. Though it is based on E-mail you can always txt to a email address and email a txt'er at their respected address... Another device worth a look at is the Peek. It works off cellular coverage and has fixed monthly cost. Though it is based on E-mail you can always txt to a email address and email a txt’er at their respected address…

]]> By: Claire Strodtbeck http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33582 Claire Strodtbeck Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:25:48 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33582 These devices definitely aren't for high school age kids who are out and about a lot, but they might work well for junior highers who are at home more often. These devices definitely aren’t for high school age kids who are out and about a lot, but they might work well for junior highers who are at home more often.

]]> By: Mark http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33579 Mark Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:05:55 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33579 These all look like great devices for the home, but as others have said, what do they do when they are not within range? My suggestion is to get them a pay as you go or pre-paid phone, as Claire mentions, for the times away from home. This will teach them "restraint"....which should be learned anyways. These all look like great devices for the home, but as others have said, what do they do when they are not within range?

My suggestion is to get them a pay as you go or pre-paid phone, as Claire mentions, for the times away from home. This will teach them “restraint”….which should be learned anyways.

]]> By: Tyler Puckett http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33576 Tyler Puckett Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:43:48 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33576 Great idea! I actually just sent a letter to my Atty General asking him to investigate the collusion that is occurring in the wireless industry. It seems that every time one provider raises it's texting rates, the others follow within a few months. There is no real competition. An appalling thing is if you want to use the IM client that comes on your phone (unless you have a PDA phone), they use BOTH your data and text plans. We all know IMs pass over the data network, but I know at least that AT&T ALSO charges each message sent and received as a text. It is especially appalling because text messages are sent over "extra" bandwidth on the network, effectively costing the provider nothing to send and receive them. They also have peering relationships, where AT&T doesn't have to pay anything to send a text to a Verizon number, as long as the inverse is true. Who knows if anything will ever come of it, but I do know that NC's Atty general is very much out for the consumer...he sent out thousands of cease and desists and fines this past summer when the "gas crisis" hit and stations were gouging customers. Great idea!

I actually just sent a letter to my Atty General asking him to investigate the collusion that is occurring in the wireless industry. It seems that every time one provider raises it’s texting rates, the others follow within a few months. There is no real competition.

An appalling thing is if you want to use the IM client that comes on your phone (unless you have a PDA phone), they use BOTH your data and text plans. We all know IMs pass over the data network, but I know at least that AT&T ALSO charges each message sent and received as a text.

It is especially appalling because text messages are sent over “extra” bandwidth on the network, effectively costing the provider nothing to send and receive them. They also have peering relationships, where AT&T doesn’t have to pay anything to send a text to a Verizon number, as long as the inverse is true.

Who knows if anything will ever come of it, but I do know that NC’s Atty general is very much out for the consumer…he sent out thousands of cease and desists and fines this past summer when the “gas crisis” hit and stations were gouging customers.

]]> By: Marty http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33575 Marty Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:40:23 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33575 Informative. But your three devices need access to wifi, or a computer. Your teenager is not going to stay within three hundred feet of a wifi to text. With the cell phone he can go anywhere. but at least these are a start. Informative. But your three devices need access to wifi, or a computer. Your teenager is not going to stay within three hundred feet of a wifi to text. With the cell phone he can go anywhere. but at least these are a start.

]]> By: Jason http://the-gadgeteer.com/2009/04/16/texting-troubles-whats-a-parent-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-33573 Jason Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:20:47 +0000 http://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=14324#comment-33573 Wow, awesome post! I use anywhere from 12,000 - 16,000 messages a month. That includes regular SMS, AIM forwarding and twitter alerts. I use AT&T with the iPhone 3G. Wow, awesome post! I use anywhere from 12,000 – 16,000 messages a month. That includes regular SMS, AIM forwarding and twitter alerts. I use AT&T with the iPhone 3G.

]]>