Students embody cell-only trend

Busy signals, random surveys, phone cords and expensive landlines are becoming a thing of the past for most IU students.\nInstead of paying extra for a home phone, students are increasingly using just their cell phones. \nThis trend is not unique to IU. Young people are more likely to only use cell phones, according to a May 2006 Pew Research Center report. The number of cell-phone-only users is growing nationwide, and it is high in Bloomington because of the population's college-student-skewed demographics. According to the report, people under the age of 30 who are not married and are not homeowners are less likely to have a landline.\nA representative from Blue Marble Telecom, a local telephone company in Ellettsville, Ind., that provides service to Bloomington residents, was unable to provide much information about student landline subscriptions for a simple reason: "We don't have many students use our telephone services."\nA big reason students choose to circumvent the use of a landline is the expense. \n"It's not very cost-effective," said junior Tiffany Weiss, who already has her own home and does not plan on getting a landline in the future. \n"Last time I did (have a landline) was freshman year in the dorms," said fifth-year senior Aaron Sarazan. "Once I got my cell phone and it was free to call anywhere in the U.S. and I got broadband, there was no need." \nBut saving money could end up costing young adults some representation in national polls, because pollsters are only able to contact people with landlines.\nForty-eight percent of people ages 18 to 29 have a cell phone only, while just 14 percent have landlines, according to the Pew report. \nSome students in Bloomington are not aware that Americans are polled using landlines, but this does not affect their decision.\nDifferent area codes, while common, also do not deter students. \n"Almost all of my friends have different area codes," Weiss said, "It is common on campus especially." \nStill, there are reasons why students would want to have landlines in the future. Students with dial-up Internet connections or parents worried about not having a landline could be prompted to reconsider their telephone choice.\n"I think it (the landline telephone) will continue to be around in rural areas for Internet purposes," Sarazan said. "But I think they are dying out more or less." \n"The only reason I would (get a landline) is because my mom has an anxiety issue," senior Megan Slater said. "She is worried that if I forget my cell phone she won't be able to get a hold of me."\nSophomore Henry Lin said he feels the same as others who have not made the cell-phone switch. \n"It would be too strange if I don't have a landline and stayed (in Bloomington) for a long time," Lin said.