Getting a new phone is always exciting, especially when you get your hands on one of the many exciting options offered by AT&T. That is doubly true for my mom and sister. Not long before the holiday season, they both were in need of a new phone. They weren’t ready for a smartphone, but liked a number of the new touch-screen phones available. After watching Stephanie’s Samsung Solstice review, and trying it out for themselves, both decided to go with the Solstice.
Then, the unexpected happened – my mom signed up for her first text messaging plan. Now, instead of a phone call asking us what new clothes Fiona needs, we get a SMS message requesting size and color preferences. Sometimes we get MMS messages detailing the day’s purchases. We’ve decided that my mom is officially dangerous when in close proximity to anywhere that sells baby apparel.
My mom even invents her own shorthand, apparently not happy with this generation’s LOL, TTYL, and L8Rs. I always knew I had a cool mom. Now, she further proves the point via SMS.
Message & data rates may apply.
Posted by Cory in Cory, SmartPhone Tags: Cory, SmartPhone, Texting
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Last November I wrote a blog in reference to the mystery of teenagers and text messaging. The blog focused on my daughter and the fact that she had 14,593 text messages in one month. I also mentioned this seems impossible as she cannot text message while she is at her high school. Plus she participates in a dance company where she dances a minimum of 3 hours a day during the week, almost every Saturday and occasionally on Sunday’s.
Until now I thought 14,593 text messages were impossible for her to exceed; however I am once again proven wrong by my children. Last month she broke the 25K barrier with 25,449 text messages in one month. This is equivalent to over 800 text messages a day which is unbelievable. One reason for the increase is she was out of school and dance for winter break which lasted about 2 weeks. However, 25,449 text messages in a month is still a lot of messages for anyone.
I am considering looking up the Guinness World Record for text messages, as this could be the new record. The teenagers today say thank goodness for wireless technology, however I am just thankful that unlimited text messaging is a feature that is offered and to which I subscribe. Do you have teenagers that go to the extreme with text messaging? Did they ever exceed 25,000 text messages in one month?
Standard usage rates apply to text messages, depending on your plan.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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The way people depend on their mobile devices amazes me more and more each day. For New Years my family went to Walt Disney World for six nights. We celebrated New Year’s Eve in the Magic Kingdom. Over my lifetime I have never seen a place as crowded before. In fact, there were so many people in front of Cinderella’s Castle, it was almost impossible to get through the crowd. What shocked me more than the size of the crowd was the number of people text messaging on New Year’s Eve vs. the traditional phone call. Around midnight the spectacular fireworks show began. As that show ended the mobile devices came out everywhere and the text messages started. I myself was even guilty of text messaging “Happy New Year”. I guess why tell someone “Happy New Year” when you can just text it to them?
Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: Holidays, Michael, Texting
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As the parent of a college and high school student it amazes me how much they rely on their mobile phones to communicate. What amazes me more is how much they use their devices for text messaging vs. talking. What really scares me is when a teenager or anyone tries to text message when behind the wheel of a car.
Driving any vehicle requires the full concentration from the driver. Not only do you need to concentrate on driving, but also on other drivers, obstacles in the road, people on bicycles and other things, such as people in crosswalks or just crossing the street. If someone tries to text message while doing all of these activities the chances of causing or being part of an accident drastically increase. I just think how hard it is to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Driving is something that we all get better at over time. A young driver needs to concentrate and focus on driving and avoid as many distractions as possible. When I started driving in 1976, I was a teenager and thought I knew everything there was to know about driving. I had my driver’s license for less than a month and decided to drive a car full of friends for ice cream on a rainy night. I was trying to drive in the rain while talking, changing the radio and focusing on my friends. That must have been when that large rock jumped in front of my car. Luckily no one was injured (except my pride); however my parents pulled my driving privileges for a month. I can only think this would have been a serious accident if I added text messaging into the mix. But in 1976 we didn’t have mobile phones available.
Below are some tips to remind your children of as well as anyone you know who is driving a vehicle:
- Don’t text and drive. No text message is worth the distraction.
- Ask passengers to help by changing the CD or radio station, placing a cell phone call, or reading directions to you.
- If you don’t have a passenger, wait until you come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign before changing the CD or radio station.
- If you need to make or take a call or respond to a text, wait until your trip is complete or pull over to do so.
- Never use your phone to take pictures, send and read messages, record video, or watch TV while driving.
- It’s best not to eat and drive at the same time. If you’re traveling with someone, take turns driving while the passenger eats.
- Avoid stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
- Use hands-free options or voice-activated dialing
- Don’t be a “rubbernecker.” Let your passengers do the sightseeing while you drive.
- Make safety your most important call. In the case of an emergency, a cell phone can be a very useful tool. Remember, dialing 911 is always a free call.
Please do what you can to encourage safe driving for your family and friends. Do you have teenagers that drive? Remind them never to text and drive, no message is worth the risk.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Safety, Uncategorized Tags: Michael, Safety, Texting
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Hey! I was recently given the opportunity to review the Samsung Mythic, and wanted to share with you some of the features I thought were the best especially for busy parents on the go.
Have I captured your interest? Well I have good news! We have one Samsung Mythic to give away to one lucky reader
Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave a comment here and tell us how the Samsung Mythic will help keep you calm, cool and connected. Your e-mail address and phone number must be accurate in your comment so we’re able to contact you. Make sure you double check. (Don’t worry. These won’t be published.)
2) You can also enter by writing a post on your blog answering the same question. Just be sure to leave a comment here linking to your post so we know where to find it.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This sweepstakes runs from December 16 to Sunday, December 20, 2009. It is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person. Wireless service is not included with the phone. The winner will be notified via phone on or about Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
For complete contest rules, including eligibility, click here.
Standard usage rates apply to text messages and data usage, depending on your plan. See att.com/dataterms for terms and conditions.
Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Contests, Effie, Reviews, Uncategorized, Vlogs Tags: Contest, Contests, Effie, Mobile TV, Samsung Mythic, SmartPhone, Texting
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During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, our family had dinner at my wife’s cousin’s house on two separate occasions. We had a total of 10 people at each dinner, spanning from three generations. My mother-in-law and my wife’s cousin’s parents made up one generation. My wife and I as well as her cousin and cousin’s husband made up another generation. Finally my son (20 years old), daughter (16 years old) and their cousin (23 years old) made up the third generation.
During the dinner my children were caught eating with one hand, which made everyone curious as to what they were doing. Then we realized what was happening, as my children were seen using their mobile phones throughout dinner. They were texting while they were eating, although they claimed to just be checking the time. I guess no one uses a watch anymore? The mobile devices at the dinner table seemed to bother several people, which then sparked some comments.
Using mobile phones during the family dinner resulted in a new type of timeout, “mobile phone timeout.” Do your children need a “mobile phone timeout” so they can have some quality family time?
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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As the parent of a teenage daughter, I am curious how it is possible for someone to have over 14,000 text messages in a month. What makes this more challenging is that she cannot text message while she is at her high school. In addition she participates in a dance company where she dances 3 hours a day during the week, almost every Saturday and occasionally on Sunday’s.
Last month my daughter had 14,593 messages on her Samsung A737 phone. The 14,593 messages is equivalent to about 486 messages a day, based on a 30 day month. I do not know how this is possible given her schedule with high school and dance. When I get home from work I have trouble watching one hour worth of TV. Do you have teenagers that like to text message?
Posted by Michael in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Michael, Teenagers, Texting
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The Boys & Girls Clubs of America was having their annual chairman dinner the other night and I had the opportunity to attend with the AT&T team. It is so rewarding to hear how BGCA has impacted the lives of so many through various contributions and donations. I was particularly impressed by the use of cell phones and texting to raise additional funds during the dinner.
The moderator asked everyone to take out their cell phone and we all thought we were going to sing “Kum Bay Ya” with our cell phone face panels lit up; but instead on the big screen flashed a phone number with a request for anyone to text in a donation of any amount. Each table was challenged to represent the company they were sitting with. Through those efforts, I am sure several scholarships were funded and youths now have a place to go after school through our donations.
We’re always finding new ways to use technology, so why not text for charity? It makes perfect sense! Congratulations of the BGCA for all they do!
Posted by Priscilla in Priscilla Tags: Priscilla, Texting
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When going on outings with the whole family, like to a theme park, texting can come in handy. Here’s a video where I share some of my tips:
Get the Flash Player to see this content.
Standard usage rates apply to text messages, depending on your plan. See att.com/dataterms for terms and conditions.
Posted by Becky in Becky, How To, Vlogs Tags: Becky, text message, Texting
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On a recent Saturday, my 16 year old daughter was at a dance company workshop for the entire day. Along with that, we also had a parent’s meeting which did not end until 9 pm. After the meeting, a group of parents and dancers went out for dinner. We all sat at one large table, but the nine dancers (the youngsters) who came to dinner all sat at one end of the table – the opposite end.
During dinner, I noticed that the girls had their mobile phones out and were text messaging. However, what I did not realize at first is that they were text messaging each other…while sitting at the same table! To make matters more confusing, some of the girls were switching phones. I suddenly remembered something my wife shared with me that she’d seen on Facebook – “Why talk when you can text?”
Does your teenager text or talk to their friends (via cell phone) while in the same room…or at the same table?
Also, just a reminder that you still have time to enter the LG VU giveaway going on here: http://calmcoolconnected.com/2009/09/09/win-an-lg-vu/ But hurry! Contest ends tonight.
Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Michael, Teens & Cell Phones Tags: Teenagers, Texting
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