<p>I know most BS must have some type of handheld mobile device, but what mobile capabilities are really NEEDED as BS? I'm not talking about laptops here. I'm trying to find out if my S needs a basic cellphone with TXT capability or if he needs a smartphone for email/calendar/internet. We are a Verizon Wireless customer and prefer that carrier.</p>
<p>texting - do BS text a lot? Is it better to have a full QWERTY keyboard these days?</p>
<p>email/calendar - is it useful to have a mobile device that can easily access school email? Which protocol would you use to connect? POP3? Windows Mobil OS? iPhone?</p>
<p>internet - is it useful to have a mobile device that can easily access the internet or is the dorm's laptop more than enough?</p>
<p>I prefer to give my S only what he needs. What are you planning to provide for your D/S? Thank you.</p>
<p>I had neither at BS and got by fine. I did all of my communication by computer or the courtesy phones around campus (and only for being picked up as a commuter). No cell phone should be <em>needed</em> although S/D will likely believe otherwise. I’m not a phone person, but many students have at least cell phones.</p>
<p>I prefer to communicate via email. My S can reply when he can. I think with texting, there is the pressure to answer sooner than need be. Calling with the cell phone can be for those topics that need more direct interaction.</p>
<p>Actually, my question about the cell/smart phones was for use at BS for BS purposes. That is, how are these devices/capabilities needed at BS for everyday life at BS? I am hoping none of these capabilities are really needed and his dorm laptop is all he will need, save for the need for “emergency calls”, etc.</p>
<p>None are <em>needed,</em> although S would probably find it easier to contact friends or be contacted if he has a cell phone of some sort. At Andover, there is a phone provided for each boarding student within the dorm, which is how students typically communicate with family members. While some students have phones like iPhones, it doesn’t help them on campus any more than a normal cell phone would, except to reduce the number of devices for e-mail, phone, and music.</p>
<p>My daughter liked having a basic cellphone, and we got her a full keyboard because she does text more than call. She knew kids without a cellphone at all, but for schools where they are allowed and there’s reception, I think there’s a lot of texting (when r u going to eat). She certainly didn’t need an iPhone or anything fancy. She had a landline in the dorm, but found more time to call home when she could do it on her way between meetings.</p>
<p>Depending upon the school, they may or may not need much as cell phones go.</p>
<p>Where there isn’t good service, you may not want to have one at all.</p>
<p>Where the service is good, if the school doesn’t restrict the usage much (typical) you will want to have unlimited text service as most kids us it more than calling to find out who is doing what where. If he is social by nature the full QWERTY keyboard will be helpful.</p>
<p>As to internet service, unless he is a slave to email (which most BS kids are not), he doesn’t really need it nor the other functions of a Crackberry, unless he is already an addict. Most kids do their calendar and planner functions on paper (often provided by school). There is also a distraction factor when web access is available in class.</p>
<p>My son has a qwerty keyboard but ends up using T9 because he can do it faster one-handed and not have to open the phone for quick responses. I’d set a $ limit and let your son pick his phone. </p>
<p>I, on the other hand, had to have qwerty keyboard so that I could easily respond to his texts, and I absolutely hear more from him by text these days. He is able to carry on short conversations with me while he is in a room with friends and texting actually allows him a little more privacy than talking would…and nobody knows he is talking (texting) to Mom.</p>
<p>I should add that this is all camp and local experience. From what I understand cell reception is non-existent at his BS so it is a school by school thing.</p>
<p>Your child doesn’t need a cel phone. Mine has made it through her entire first year at Exeter without one and she hasn’t missed it. They aren’t supposed to take them to class anyway and considering that classes last from 8:00 a.m. (or earlier) until 6:00 p.m., there really isn’t any need for a phone during that time. Once class is out the kids eat and then head back to their dorms where there are landlines. The only reason to get a cel phone is for your own convenience.</p>
<p>you might want to consider an ipod touch. It is essentially an iphone without the phone. You can email from it (on school’s wireless) and have calendar and other applications to help with work. Can also get skype on it.</p>
<p>Ability to text for teenagers in mandatory in this day and age as well as post to facebook.</p>
<p>Your child is leaving all of his old friends whom he/she will want to keep in touch with. Texting is how it is done. They rarely talk on the phone. In addition, it is the easiest way for you to keep in touch too. I rarely got phone calls from my d and when I mentioned it to her, she replied that she texted me every day.</p>
<p>Counter argument: texting is not only NOT an absolute necessity, and it is a temptation that is often too hard to resist. For some it is an addiction. It is a poor substitute for real interaction with peers and parents.</p>
<p>At SPS, cell phone usage is limited to use in your room only. Each student has a dedicated landline with voicemail so one isn’t needed. In general, electronics outside of your room are discouraged. Example: the rector spoke about not using ipods, etc. when walking from class to class because it discourages the real interaction laxtaxi mentions above. When students are engaged and great each other on the pathways, it fosters a much more friendly atmosphere and encourages community spirit. There is no need for a cell phone at SPS, and for that I am glad.</p>
<p>Regarding electronics outside your room. It’s rude. Walking around with earbuds is the same as telling everyone you see that you don’t want to talk to them. It drives me crazy. I have to agree with the rector here completely.</p>
<p>Yet…just this morning my daughter was on the computer in the living room and my son had a laptop on the dining room table and they were “chatting.” Weird. They could see eachother. Then, I realized that they were having a conversation that they didn’t want Mom to hear when son immediately minimized the window as I walked behind him and daughter giggled. So, I guess texting and chatting has it’s specific uses.</p>
<p>That sentiment of not using electronics while outside of one’s room (and headphones in the library, for instance) is occasionally echoed by Andover.</p>
<p>I’m curious, though - to those of you who said students “need” it, what is your definition of need? Because I found that one could survive without a cell phone at all. Even now that I have one in college, I keep it off all of the time.</p>
<p>A smartphone (i.e., Blackberry or similar) is definitely overkill. If your kid has a laptop at school, particularly if it has wireless capability (which most do now), chances are that he/she will be able to access the school’s network at no charge for email, web browsing, etc. But I would still get more than a basic cell phone. There are some very nice middle of the road phones that do not have smartphone capabilities, but that come will full qwerty keyboards for texting, calendars, organizers, etc. In this class, I think that one of the best new phones out there right now is the LG env3, which Verizon carries. It’s a great messenging phone and has some nice bells and whistles. You can currently get it through Costco for $49.99 with a two year contract with Verizon. Comes with case, home and car chargers, ear buds, etc. If you’re a Verizon customer, you can get the basic 450 anytime minutes plan for $39.99/month and that would include unlimited mobile to mobile calling with other Verizon wireless customers and free night and weekend calling to non-Verizon customers. You could add 500 text messages/month for $10. Pretty good deal and the phone has enough “cool factor” to make your kid very happy. The phone is capable of doing much more (web access, email, music and video downloads, satellite navigation, etc.), but you don’t need to add any of that stuff unless you want to.</p>
<p>My daughter used her cellphone to call home when she was outside her dorm room, for privacy from (and not to bother) her roommate. She was so busy that it would usually be when she was walking back to the dorm after music practice at night. Luckily she’s not text-addicted (I know some teens who are and it’s a gruesome sight—texting at Thanksgiving dinner!) but it is how a lot of communication about logistics takes place. I also think there can be a safety/convenience factor in having a cell phone for certain situations, travel alone, etc. But to each his or her own, it certainly isn’t essential and I agree with the poster above, I think an overly smart phone is overkill and just one more thing to break or lose.</p>