Handsfree and a Smartphone

This weekend I finally broke down and got a handsfree device. It was the most expensive device I have ever purchased! See the thing is on July 1st a new law comes into effect in California. All drivers must have a handsfree device in use for their cell phones while driving. Not a problem, I actually agree with the law, the problem is I also really like my phone and in order to go handsfree with a comfortable device actually means a new phone as well. I had tried several hands free devices in the past (wired, since my phone wasn't blue tooth) however I never found one that was comfortable and would work well with my phone. So I have put it off forever.

Well with the recent increase in my travels, I have been getting pressure from my boss about the need for a Blackberry. He believes that all the managers and sales/engineering people should have one. I am not opposed to the idea, just the execution. The thing is the company wants everyone to be under one carrier, with the same plan and same device. Unfortunately, the carrier is not my current cell phone provider. Thus I am stuck with either giving in or carry two phones and honestly who wants to do that? The problem is, not everyone is going to agree on one device, as I believe your cell phone is a personal choice and is selected with that in mind. The tool that is best for me, may not be best for someone else. I also don't like being told that having the phone is a perk only to be told in the same breath that I would be monitored for my personal use. I am sorry? Excuse me, but my cell phone IS my phone. It is the one I use the most. In fact, the only one in our house that uses the land line is me when I talk to my parents. We talk with everyone else on our cell phones.

Anyway so Thursday night, Matthew and I went to Sprint to look at phones. I spent an hour in the store looking at every Nextel and Smartphone they had. I narrowed it down to 3, but in the end wasn't 100% sure. After talking with a couple of people on Friday about their smartphones, Matthew and I went back to Sprint on Friday night. We decided on the Mogul. For two reasons: Matthew liked it and it was the best smartphone they had. (After playing with both the Treo and Blackberry neither of which I liked). In the end, we figured that if my company forces me to get a Blackberry as well as move to Verizon then Matthew can use the Mogul. The down-side to the Mogul, is no more direct-connect/walkie talkie feature. This was a hard feature to give up as this is what really drew Matthew and I to go with Nextel 9 years ago. However Nextel phones just don't have the smartphone features that I believe will be needed for our jobs. Guess we shall see!

I also got a Bluetooth headset and now look like I should be a crew member on Stargate or some other sci-fi show. At least I am not the only one!

A Victim of Facebook

Okay so this last week I fell victim to Facebook. Have you heard of it? If not, beware! If so, then you all can sympathize with me. I had actually been warned about Facebook by a couple of my friends a few months ago. In fact, it was my husband who actually found out about it while I was visiting my mom back March and made a pact with my friends not to tell me anything about it. That was until I saw one of those friends a few weeks later who told me the whole story, as well as about Facebook. No big deal, I was strong and I had already decided that I really wasn't interested in joining, seeing as I am really not into the "myspace thing" anyway. Also, as many of you can see, I have had a difficult time keeping up with my blog lately; thus didn't need another time consuming activity! So fast forward to a week ago, I received an email from a dear friend of mine announcing a new family album. I thought...cool...I can see pictures of the new baby boy they are fostering as well as new pictures of their daughter. The only catch...I had to join Facebook to see it!! What?? Here I had tried to stay away from it and like a bad penny it turned up again! So I signed up and within 5 days I have 30 new friends, 10 applications, and umpteen million gifts....bottom line, I'm addicted. Every night I have raced home to see what new friends looked me up or have confirmed me as a friend; read emails from old friends and played some fun games. It is just Craziness!! Pure craziness! I will say that it has been really fun re-connecting with some of my old college friends! (some I haven't seen in 12 years). So for those of you who haven't joined yet, beware! Enter at your own risk, on the other hand in small doses it may not be so addicting. Ultimately that will be up to you!!