Portraits For
The Holidays!
and wireless service providers have
been blessed with an increase in par-
ents purchasing the phones as gifts.
While no formal statistics exist on the
number of users who are children,
local sellers say the under-18 crowd
accounts for anywhere from 10 to 25
percent of their business, up from
almost nothing 10 years ago.
Reasons for the purchase of the
electronic gadget range from keeping
tabs on a busy kid to safety, phone
sellers say. But by and large, parents
are laying down the cash and signing
up for cellular service contracts for
peace of mind.
In fact, a recent survey found that
90 percent of the nation's 63 million
cellular phone users say safety and
security were their number-one rea-
sons for purchasing a cellular phone,
more than business and convenience
combined. And 60 percent of all
users have utilized their phones in
cases of car problems, a medical
emergency or to report a drunk driver
or crime.
The World of Wireless
Communications reports that 83,000
calls per day are made to emergency
dispatch numbers from wireless
phones, almost 30 million such calls
annually.
Besides the safety factor, cell
phones also afford the child a mea-
sure of responsibility while still allow-
ing the parent to keep tabs on them,
said Greg Haller, director of sales in
the Detroit region for AirTouch
Cellular.
"When I grew up, I left the house
in the morning, was gone all day and
didn't see my parents until night. But
Families...
Children...
Couples...
Groups...
Perfect for your family...
Perfect for holiday gift giving!
Don't forget...
we offer gift certificates, too!
i tirM, KNIGHT&
LODEUTSCH
'
44
PHOTOGRAPHY
248-352-7030
LIFE LINE on page 31
26571 W. 12 Mile Rd. - Southfield, MI - 48034
How to avoid high bills and accidents.
Stephen Boesky said there are two ways for parents to
avoid the unwanted charges. First, most phones are pro-
grammable to accept only certain numbers for both dialing
our and receiving, cutting down on social calls. Second, the
pre-paid phone cards allow the child only so many minutes of
usage. When the card runs out, another has to be purchased
before the phone works again.
But most importantly, parents stressed using the phone safely.
Parent Ann Rosenberg suggests installing hands-free models with micro-
phones mounted into the visor to avoid juggling or dropping the telephone
when trying to answer it.
"I am a huge proponent of the hands-free model of the car phone," she
said. "It looks silly to be talking to the windshield but I think it is safer."
Gayle Burstein, development director at Alzheimer's Association, said
she has had a car phone for ages and uses it while driving for social and
business reasons, citing safety and convenience
as her reasons for its use.
But she knows that she has more experi-
ence driving and that this practice is
really not safe for anyone. She sug-
gests teaching a child not to use the
phone while driving. Instead, she
recommends the young driver pull
into a safe parking lot to make a call.
"They really need to be able to keep
their minds on their driving and their eyes on
the road when they are driving. They don't have
as much skill at driving and can easily be dis-
tracted," she said.
— Jill Davidson Sklar
ome Back to Caucus Club....
Enjoy such
OPEN
specialities as
Dinner: Tues-Fri
London Broil,
Sauteed Perch,
Dover Sole
& Baby Back
Ribs
lunch: Mon -Fri
•
Weekends
Available for
private parties
LET US CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT
If you've been here before, you know — If you haven't, we are a must!
Gift certificates available
Please ask for Mary • 313-965-4970
Even Barbra Streisand loved it here!!!
THE CAUCUS CLUB • 150 West Congress • Detroit, MI 48226
Reservations Recommended • 313-965-4970
Serving the Best Since 1952
,A
Cala lac Best
Mtisic Reviews im
N aNtertaiotosieNt
Detroit Jewish News
11/20
1998
G29