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From: worthj1970@yahoo.com (John W.)
Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan
Subject: Re: Bog-ordinary keitai
Date: 4 Aug 2004 06:33:15 -0700
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dame_zumari@yahoo.com (Louise Bremner) wrote in message news:<1ghzv2j.1i9drqv1m8g79vN%dame_zumari@yahoo.com>...
> John W. <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Louise Bremner wrote:
> > > It's not often we need mobile phones, but just sometimes (maybe once a
> > > month, or even less), messages get crossed and one of us ends up waiting
> > > in the wrong place or the wrong time, unable to contact the other. This
> > > time I'm covered in mosquito bites.
> > > 
> > > So what's the cheapest option for a pair of mobile phones with
> > > absolutely no frills whatsoever, that will rarely be used?
> > > 
> > What about a pager? 
> 
> As I understand it (OK, not very far), a pager still piggybacks onto
> some sort of mobile phone arrangement, doesn't it? 
> 
> But I suspect they've been killed by SMS.
> 
That's my guess as well. I know they're still offered in the US, and
the Blackberry is an option here but I don't know the pricing (and if
it's available in Japan). Not sure if they have those in Japan, and
the Blackberry is fairly expensive.

Have you been to a store to ask? I'd just pop in and tell them what
you want and see what the most minimal offering is.

> > Also, something that would only work in relatively close range 
> > would be a two-way radio (walkie talkies). My parents use them and 
> > theirs (Motorola, don't know the brand, but their pretty small) can go
> > for maybe 300 meters, depending on obstacles. It used to be popular with
> > parents for keeping up with their kids in shopping malls and at fairs,
> > but cell phones have replaced them.
> 
> A walkie-talkie pair would be ideal, except for that 300-meter limit....
> 
I noticed a Motorola (T7200) that boasts a five mile range.

John W.