Introducing the iPhone...

[Caduceus]

geoschmo said:
What can you do with a pager that you can't do with a cell phone?

Not answer it.

[Caduceus]

Sorry, I couldn't resist the one-liner.

The pager allows me to take time to answer a call, so to speak. At 2 AM, I need a moment to focus and collect my thoughts. Not to mention swear a few times when it is the Emergency Room. Again.

And the hospital can page me to a patient's number to bypass having to call them first to get the number I need to call.

[Slick]

Unfortunately there are still lots of ancient *coughgovernmentcough* systems in use that only work with similarly ancient pagers.

Also, newer phones have features that are prohibited in certain sensitive areas - cameras, data storage, etc. Pagers are dumb enough to be allowed just about anywhere.

Deevolution at its finest.

[geoschmo]

Caduceus said:
And the hospital can page me to a patient's number to bypass having to call them first to get the number I need to call.

Ok, this makes a little sense. They could leave the number as a voice mail, although yo ustill have the extra step of checking yoru voice mail to get the number.

I would be very suprised if there aren't services available out there that would address this though. It would be a simple matter to have a separate phone number that from the callers perspective was like a pager, let them punch in a number which would then come through to your cell phone as a text message. I can't say I've seen such a service, but I've never had the need for it so I've not looked. It would be a simple matter to set something like that up though.

Slick said:
Unfortunately there are still lots of ancient *coughgovernmentcough* systems in use that only work with similarly ancient pagers.

Also, newer phones have features that are prohibited in certain sensitive areas - cameras, data storage, etc. Pagers are dumb enough to be allowed just about anywhere.

What systems do you mean?

I've heard of the secutiry issues. The Federal building in my town has a rule like that, for what sense it makes. If that's an issue you ought to be able to get one that doesn't have those features though.

[geoschmo]

A quick Google search shows I'm not the first one to consider this.

Using your cell phone as a pager

The issue about reception inside buildings is one I hadn't considered, althogh my cell service is pretty good so I don't have a problem with it. With some carriers it's probably more of an issue.

[marhawkman]

BTW... do these thing actually work yet?

[Slick]

geoschmo said:
What systems do you mean?

Let's just say that there are ancient communications systems still in use because they still work acceptably well and would cost big $$$ to upgrade. The cost isn't mainly associated with hardware and software, but rather in changing complex processes & procedures, retraining personnel, testing reliability and interfacing with other ancient systems, etc. "Red Tape" stuff. It ain't broke enough yet to fix it, unfortunately.

[geoschmo]

Caduceus said:

Not answer it.

I screen calls all the time with my cell phone. If it's a number I don't recognize, or if it's someone I don't want to talk to right them I let it go to voice mail and it doesn't use my air time. And even if they don't leave a message I know who called.

[Caduceus]

And I can turn the phone off between pages so an irate patient can't call me back at any hour of the day or night.