- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -
Cell Phone update.
- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

After a trip to the ATT store at the local Galleria Mall. My cell phone no longer barks, but then again, it really does not ring either!
I explained the situation to yet another college kid who proceded to look at me with a blank stare (just what abnormality causes this perfected collegekid salesperson stare?) when I told him I want a phone that rings, no barks, meows, bubbles (bubbling or popping), no music, no chimes. A ring.  The way a phone was meant to let you know someone is there should you wish to speak with them. Simply, a ring.

College boy then again just looked at me, dazed, confused, sleeping with
eyes open, time warp sort of look - I could see the wheels turning, albeit
slowly and just a few seconds later his face lit up - "Oh, your phone is not capable of ringing; you see, phones don't ring anymore because 'they' don't want them to simply ring."

I responded with a quirky, "My first question is who is 'they'? My second question is: why would you make and sell a phone that does not ring?"

Not answering the first portion (limited memory capabilities I suspect) and
instead jumping to the second question, college kid replied, "You're supposed to check the phone out before you buy it"

"I did; it opened, it closed, it had buttons and it fit in my pocket. I didn't know I needed to see if a phone would ring. That's like checking to see if a TV I would wish to buy has sound."

"You're supposed to check the phone before you buy it."

"OK, we've been through this."

At this point, I am beginning to think someone did not take their medication this morning as I was being looked at again with that hazed over eye blank stare kind of look.

College boy then says - "I know, you can simply download a new ringer off the internet and it's only $2!"

"No, I just bought a phone and signed a contract with you.  I certainly am not paying for my phone to ring."

"No?"

"No."

"Hmm, that's the only solution, Sir, and it's only $2.  All you have to do is
download it off the internet!"

"Well, I won't pay $2, and even if I were, I certainly am not paying to access the internet on my cell phone. It's a phone.  If I want to access the internet I will use my computer. Here's my phone; you download it from the internet and you install it. If my phone does not ring I'll return it all and cancel the contract as I have 30 days to excercise that option."

After 35 minutes and college boy making 3 seperate phone calls, and swapping out his data card, college boy found a simple ringer. Although it was quite difficult to find a simple ringer. in fact, he didn't find one - he found some sort of ringer that might resemble a 1940's wall mounted telephone that I have heard in a James Cagney movie while watching it with my grandfather.

Though I won't complain, it's not the best, but it rings. No longer will people think I have a dog in my pocket (barking) or a sensitive medical condition (bubbling). Now they will think, 'who is this guy with the really bad 1940's ringer on his cell?'

I am left pondering a couple of points -

1.  Who are "they"?

2.  What medication do these college kids take?

3.  Why would one wish their pocket to bark?

4.  Why would any company make a phone that does not ring?
Lastly, do people actually pay $2 to purchase barking, bubbling and rap songs for their cell phones?  If so, I am in the wrong business.