Mobile Crazy?

[Torsten]

After reading Mobile Crazy I wonder how many people are actually already addicted to cell phones. I somewhere read that in Germany alone a couple of million SMS are sent/received (and maybe even read) each day and I guess that most of them contain just a couple of letters. (Something like "... where r u right now?") Maybe because of texting so many English learners are struggling with even basic words because they chop into little pieces that often make the message impossible to decipher unless you took a course in that language.

So how many SMS do you send per day and how often do you talk on your mobile? Also, do you prefer to call your phone "mobile" or "cell"?

Regards,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Well, since I´ve read that us German always pronounce "mobile" the wrong way I try to get used to call it "cellphone" which I hope is easier to speak out.

Since I´ve signed up for a mobile flat rate I get used to talk quite often on my "cell".

Michael

[Ralf]

Hi Michael,

What's a 'flat rate'?



Ralf
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Hi Ralf,

seems "flat rate " is some kind of germlish and mainly means you pay a certain amount of money to the provider and you can use his service for a certain timespan without getting further bills.

In my case that means simplified: "I give the provider an amount "X" every month and may call on the phone the whole month long as much as I like ( as far as I call in a certain net, of course)"

Hope my attempt at an explanation can satisfy you?

Michael

[Torsten]

Hi Michael and Ralf,

I remember discussing the term flatrate here a couple of months ago.

It looks like another English word that is used primarily in German just like "showmaster".

By the way, welcome back to the forum! Where have you been all this time?
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi all

The expression 'flat rate' is well-known on this side of the pond. Here's is a link to a newpaper article, for example:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2008-02-18-verizon_N.htm

And here is a news article about Comcast:
Comcast flat rate

Google comes up with more than 40 million English-only results for "flat rate":
Google search results (English only) for "flat rate"

Vodaphone uses it here.

And here it's used in connection with Orange.
.

[Ralf]

Hi,

Yeah, I know. It was a term I first came across in Germany, and so it never really 'established' in my basic set of genuine terms. Language moves on whilst ya gotta keep pace .
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher