Based on many stories I’m reading about the popularity of cell phone subscription content, I’m definitely feeling in the minority who isn’t that interested in getting more content on my cell phone. In fact, I’m barely interested in getting calls on my cell phone. Not that I’m antisocial or don’t see the value of having a mobile phone, keep reading, I’ll explain what I’d rather use.

A CBS News to Go service will be sold for 99 cents a month, while a service called E.T. to Go, focusing on entertainment news built off the show “Entertainment Tonight,” will initially be offered for $3.99 a month. Entertainment Tonight is produced by Paramount Television, another division of CBS.

There are so many different ways cell phone companies try to get into our pockets: ringtones, ringback tones, games, etc. I can get with buying the games, but the quarterly rental plans seem like a sad attempt to puncture the lining of my wallet. Oh, and don’t even get me started on cell phone radiation or the growing army of cell yellers

What do I have against cell phones
Maybe it’s fact that you pay a lot and get very little back in return that I can keep. For two phones and limited minutes usage (like under 500 minutes a month total) our bill, after taxes, is currently over $100 USD a month. Except for those who must do business on the road and emergencies, where do cell phones really bring value?

Unlimited local and long distance calling with no ridiculous roaming fees, I can do that with VoIP. It would be great to be able to use EVDO and VoIP to replace our cell phone plans altogether. Then it’s one straight monthly fee and the only overages we’d pay would be international minutes. Of course we aren’t quite there yet, but this scenario is coming.

Prior to buying our new car with OnStar last year, for a few months we went without a cell phone and life didn’t end. The renewal comes up this December of the two year contract and I’m not sure we will renew. VoIP + EVDO? If the coverage is good enough, maybe. Currently we have a red dot glowing with the Onstar + Verizon phone service meaning the hardware needs repair and the only place to get that done is at the dealer, so we’re paying for phone service in the car we can’t even use.

Something that might get us to stay would be buying some sort of smartphone like device which would combine my pocket pc with cell phone so I didn’t have to carry around two devices any more.

As I write this I fully realize there are many cell phone junkies out there who can’t see life without their phones. Just watch cars pass on your trip to anywhere today and see how many are rambling away on the phone while driving; it’s more than 40% easy.

I wish they’d outlaw all but handsfree phones in vehicles because I’m paying higher insurance rates for idiots jawing on their phones and not paying attention. The other day this car was half idling in two lanes, no signal to turn into either lane and we cautiously inched beside the car. WTF? Turns out the lady was trying to turn into the right lane where we slid by but she seemed more concerned talking on the phone. As I pushed past her she finally edged into our lane and gave me hardly a notice.

I can just imagine people trying to watch TV on their cell phone, jabbering with friends, fiddling with the radio, oh, and driving.

Now it’s time to be honest. Confession time. Are you a cell phone user or abuser?

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