Cell phones are becoming so popular that more and more people are foregoing traditional phones and relying solely on their cells.
Linda Witt, manager of the on-campus long distance program, said fewer students are using the long-distance service AT&T offers in the dorms.
"We've seen an increase in cellular usage," she said.
Local retailers also said an increasing number
of students want their cell phones to be their only phones.
"A lot of folks are doing that," said Mike Strait, ACI store manager. "I do it."
He said his store, which sells cell phones and calling plans, is preparing for an increased interest in wireless phones by setting up a booth downtown for the start of the Fall Semester.
He said students like to shop around, comparing plans and prices.
Those in search of wireless phones and plans can check out their options at dealers downtown, in the Nittany Mall and in the HUB-Robeson Center.
"They should find somebody they feel comfortable dealing with," Strait advised, adding that the cheapest plans might not offer the best customer service and value in the long run.
Jonathan Marsden, an account executive at The Communication Station, 118 S. Pugh St., said his store would also be setting up a tent downtown to cater to Fall Semester students.
"I would say shop around first," Marsden said, adding that customers should try to get the most minutes for the best price.
He said customers should ask about the price, the number of minutes, the calling area and the roaming area.
"They should ask about the phone itself -- the features and the accessories it has," he said.
They should also be aware of the length of the contract, the activation fee and the early termination fee, he added.
Marsden and Strait both suggested that students ask about student discounts, which many wireless dealers offer. They also said customers should ask about the availability and cost of special options. They said popular features include text messaging (the ability to send and receive written messages on the screen of the cell phone) and mobile Web service (the availability to access the Internet with the phone).
"Lots of students like the vibrating batteries so they can be in class and it can ring and not cause a disturbance," Marsden said.
Many students find that cell phones not only allow them to forego long-distance service, but also serve as an extra line that is useful when living situations involve multiple people on one conventional phone line.
"It's often easier to use my off-peak minutes on my cell phone to call home and friends, rather than tie up the line in my apartment," Lucy Wimpenny (junior-human development and family studies) said.
In addition, Wimpenny said there is an element of privacy that can be obtained when using a cell phone, as opposed to the phone in her apartment.
"If I'm in my apartment and I want to talk about something private, sometimes I can't," Wimpenny said. "So it's easier to use my cell phone and go somewhere else so I can talk without running the risk of being overheard."
