Cellular Phone Service A Pricey Piece Of Security

Your car breaks down on a cold, snowy night, far from home. You grab your cellular phone, call a mobile repair service and within minutes, a mechanic is on the scene to help you get back on the road safely.

That’s a scenario the cellular phone industry would like to imprint in your mind. It’s the idea that cellular phones are no longer just a tool for business people needing to stay in touch with their offices or clients. It’s safety and security with a dose of convenience thrown in.

Whether you buy that or not, lots of other people seem to, making the cellular phone business one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Industry statistics show between 28,000 and 30,000 new users signing up for service every day in the United States, with more than 25 million total users.

Measured in number of customers, the industry nationwide grew by about 50 percent in the past year, according to Lisa Bowersock, a spokesperson for US West Cellular.

“That phenomenal growth is linked to changes in the way consumers value cellular service,” Bowersock says.

“People have it in the car for breakdowns. They can call for assistance rather than relying on strangers. And they find it awfully convenient to order a pizza on the way home.”

AT&T spokesman Ken Woo says there are 1.2 million cell phone users in Washington, but neither AT&T nor US West, for now the two carriers of cellular phone service in this area, will talk specifics about the Spokane market.

Woo says a dramatic change in cellular phone use has been the increase in calls to 911 to report crimes in progress, accidents or other emergencies.

The downside of cellular service is that the costs seem pretty tall. It’s a high price to pay in anticipation of a hypothetical situation that rarely or never arises.

The two carriers like to sign up customers with long-term calling plans that charge a monthly fee that includes a certain amount of free calling time, and then a per-minute charge for time beyond the free allotment.

US West, for instance, has a minimum plan starting at $30 a month (with 30 minutes of free time) and a high-end plan that costs $115 a month (with 400 minutes of free time).

AT&T has a similar price structure, also offering the $30 per month, 30 minutes free plan. AT&T also has plans that distinguish between digital and analog phones. Digital phones, which make eavesdropping difficult, are more expensive, but have a lower monthly and per-minute charge.

AT&T’s basic digital service is $15 a month, with no free time and a 52 cents per minute charge.

To attract new customers, both companies are starting new campaigns to ease the process and shorten the time it takes to sign up. They are stocking cellular phone packages on retail store shelves - drug stores and supermarkets - all boxed up and ready to go for $30 in US West’s case, and $40 in AT&T’s case.

The “Talkalong” (US West) and “Go Phone” (AT&T) let you take the package home and then at the time you decide you want service, you call an operator and start it up.

Apart from these packages, cellular phones themselves are sold by electronics stores for a wide range of prices, from $1 to $800. The prices are usually discounted based on the fact that the monthly service charges are where the profits are made.

So is it worth $30 or more a month to have the security of a cellular phone? People have to judge for themselves, but it might be a better investment to spend that money on car maintenance that prevents breakdowns in the first place.

If you do decide to go wireless with a phone in your car, be sure to get a hands-free kit that lets you talk over a speaker system and keep two hands on the wheel.

Talking on the phone may not be any more distracting than talking with a passenger, but in some cases, things happening on the other end of the line might take your thoughts off the traffic situation that needs your full attention.

, DataTimes MEMO: On Your Way is a Valley Voice column focusing on commuter lifestyles and issues. Your views on any of the topics discussed are invited. Please write: On Your Way, The Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Or fax us at 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jim Springer The Spokesman-Review