Many developing nations have more cell phones than landlines because cell-tower saturation is faster and easier than stringing telephone lines everywhere. But now, it turns out, that in the middle of 2007, the number of cell phones in the American state of Iowa SURPASSED THE NUMBER OF LANDLINES.
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Comments:
I can believe it. There are more cell phones in my house than landlines.
Another reason for high cell phone use in rural America is that, unlike city folk, rural residents spend more time outside and away from a house. Their office is a tractor, pickup, horse, barn, shed, or field. These places don't have phone lines and never will.
nicepost
Not that amazing, I have only a cell phone. Land lines will be totally gone in the next 20 years. Plus it's easier to call the police in an emergency when your phone is always in your pocket.
I work at an apartment complex in Iowa with 120 apartments and 480 residents. They're all wired up for land lines, but not one is in use.
I had to do a double take... I thought the headline said "Iowa Has More Cell Phones Than Landmines"
I'm from Iowa and my office is certainly not a horse, nor a shed. It has taken cell phone companys an extremely long time to consider Iowa a viable market, we still lack many of the major carriers that are standard in the rest of the country. Most of us actually live in cities and would appreciate a little competition amongst the carriers, so please come join us,I will take you to a tractor pull.
Only 20% of Iowa's population farm, so how is that you are assuming that the "majorities office" is a tractor? You're ignorant! The reason for the cell phone usage “might” be attested to the lower poverty in Iowa, face it cell phones are cheap and convenient. Land lines just waste space.
"Their office is a tractor, pickup, horse, barn, shed, or field."
Get your head out of your ass.
My office contains a desk and no sign of livestock. I've never been on a tractor.
I do, however, sleep with my brother.
Hey, look! A Tractor!
BBBBB OOOOO OOOOO MM MM
B B O O O O M M M M
BBBB O O O O M M M
B B O O O O M M
BBBBB OOOOO OOOOO M M
As an Iowa native, I find the comments about "the majority of offices are in a tractor, pickup..." pretty funny. It's amazing how Iowa has such a stereotype about the population being farmers.
On the topic of cell phones. I'm not too surprised. I would say that the majority of people that do still have land lines use them along with their dial-up internet. There are still many many parts of Iowa that are unable to get DSL connections or cable service.
On the subject of cell phone carriers in Iowa; it is sad that we only have a couple to choose from. I know in my hometown we only had two to choose from. For the most reliable service, you still need to have a phone with CDMA capabilities.
I'm glad this article is getting so much attention though. Maybe the cell phone companies will pay attention and give us some better service and more options.
i have 2 reasons for this
1) a middle class family of 4 has 4 cell phones and one land line (a large percentage of the population is middle class
2)these been a stead inflow of the lower class into several of iowa's large cities-the low class usually can't afford a land line and a cell phone and there fore obviously would buy the cell
...And i would know b/c i live in iowa
also iowa has this thing called mega talk that has unlimited minutes across all of iowa
... Actually, the iWireless MEGAtalk pre-paid program is a nationwide flat rate roaming fee of .25/min. It is not an unlimited calling plan for all over Iowa.
Ehh you don't have to live in rural America to spend most of your time away from the house. How much time do your really spend at home when you have work, kids activities, going out with Family and Friends? You basically have to have a cell phone these days, but you don't need a landline at all. I have not had one for 3 years and I hardly even notice it is gone. And I sure prefer the extra $50 a month in my pocket rather than giving it to the phone company.
c'mon fellow iowans.
we might as well fess up.
it's true.
we ride our tractors EVERYWHERE.
*eye roll*
... haha, you may be being sarcastic, but I remember when I was in high school they would have a day when the Future Farmers of America members would driver their tractors to school. It seemed like they waited for that day all year.
Plus, the only time there was a traffic jam in my hometown was when a tractor would be driving on the main road.
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