Is the Telephone Becoming Obsolete?

I used to think of myself of kind of an anomaly. I hate talking on phones or making phone calls, yet I have an unusual attachment (like most people I suppose) to having my cell phone on me at all times. But cell phones are mostly multimedia devices and hardly even operate as phones anymore. Sure, I text and receive calls. Usually if I need to get in touch with a friend, I will send a Kik message, or if I really feel like I want their complete attention, I'll write on their Facebook wall (via my phone of course). Which is so funny how communication has changed even in the past decade.

Just barely ten years ago, I had actually invested in my own desktop computer. Now, don't laugh, how did I survive prior to that? Well it was easy. I had a job and spent most of the day on the computer. They gave me a laptop too, so I would use that with an old school "dial-up" connection. With the advent of cable modems and DSL connections, I felt it was good to invest in a desktop so as not to disturb the use of the home landline. I barely used my cell phone, since I could barely get a signal even back then.

But one thing I hated was using the phone. I hated calling people. I always felt like I could be interrupting something. I shouldn't call too early -- they might be sleeping. If they have kids, double-the-trouble. The kid could have JUST been put down for a nap, and here I come, calling wondering what Mom was up to! Don't call during dinner -- they've just had a busy day at work. And forget after 10 pm. They might be gearing down for the night, and putting the kids to bed, or getting it on with their significant others. Fact is, if I needed to confirm just a minor detail, or ask to go to lunch, wouldn't a short message suffice? Bear in mind, this was just personal usage, and not business. I will always understand the need to talk to someone over the phone for business needs.

That's why I took to email and texting like a fish to water. The receiver could answer me at their leisure, and I wouldn't feel bad about disturbing their routine.

I think why I was so sensitive was that I always got perturbed when the phone would ring. I mean, I know it sounds bitchy, but if I was in the middle of something, and the phone rang, it was usually someone checking in. Not for nothing, but if I was in the middle of something, I don't want to be rude and be like "Oh, I'm scrubbing the toilet" or "Hey, I was in the middle of a book," since I should be happy someone is on the phone, caring enough to wonder how I'm doing.

Well, with the advent of all these bells and whistles on our cell phones, monthly cell phone bills have gone up, and the usage of landline phones have gone down. I mean, I speak from experience but I am far from the only one who I know is going through this. In 2007, the usage of mobile phones as the primary source of communication was around 13%. In 2008, I switched to using my cell phone as my primary source. I felt that having a landline, for me, personally, was just window dressing. I could easily call someone from my cell phone.

Here's the thing though: my phone rarely rang. Except for maybe my mom or my dad from time to time (although they are both texters now), it's been a long-ass time since I spent hours on the phone with someone. It really has nothing to do with my self-imposed "rules" for calling someone. It's mostly -- why bother? I can text them, Kik them, email them if the answer is not pressing, or send them a note on Facebook. I feel like there's more options than just to call. Even in the workplace, we have an "instant communicator" type of program for instant gratification, and there's always email. Even in emails, though, we'll say, "Hey, can I call you?" Or "Are you at your desk?" in case they try to call. At least then, you can prepare.

Turns out I'm not the only one who thinks like this. The New York Times had an article, that was a little on the hoity-toity with a "real housewives" feel to the people who were profiled in it, about how no one calls anyone anymore. Or that's the perception it was in this small sample set. But I have to say that I feel strongly about that.

Even Miss Manners had to weigh in on this conversation. She said that the telephone has never been a polite way to communicate. In sort of an ass-backwards way, it kind of is. But I guess if someone gives their number to another someone, chances are, it's implied that the invite is open to call one another. However, it goes back to my self-imposed rules about calling people. Even as they relate in the article, that if their phone rings at a certain time, their automatic thought is, "Ohmigoodness, what's wrong?" If I got a phone call around 10 pm, unless it was from a west coast area code, I'd probably be alarmed at first. Since mostly the people I know are getting ready for bed or gearing down for the night.

Text spending is even becoming more commonplace than cell phone minutes. This is how clueless I am about my cell phone minutes: I have the absolutely bare minimum of minutes I can use from my plan, and they have rollover minutes...I have NO idea how many minutes I have in all. I'm pretty sure that they would have to keep me around and will them to my children since I RARELY use my phone for phone calls anymore. My apps? My texting? That's where the big bucks come rolling in for the phone companies. Remember a few years ago, there wasn't a week that went by without some angry mother whose teenager had drummed up thousands of dollars in text charges.

All in all, I would say that the phone isn't obsolete, but rather it's evolving to what people's needs are. Like Alexander Graham Bell did once upon a time, like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford too, they've addressed a need for human efficiency. I know there will be needs and uses for telephones. It's devolving but in a good way.