June 2 update: the winner, as chosen by an Excel random number picker, is locotri. The voucher number was received by locotri this morning. Congratulations and thanks to everybody for participating!

How do I manage to pay $7.50 a month ($10 if you count Skype) for my telephony needs?

(1) My voicemail says "If you'd like to get a hold of me, text me or email my phone at xxxxxxxx@vmobile.ca". Most people are reluctant to use text messages (because their wireless plans charge them extra for SMS, while giving them a lot of voice minutes). However, people who call me usually have handy access to email.

(2) My phone doesn't ring at all when people call, but it DOES ring whenever I receive a message. This means that most people who call me get the voicemail that tells them to text me, and then they text me!
Most of the time they'll leave their contact phone number in a text (as opposed to my voicemail, so never have to listen to it to get that important phone number). If the matter can wait an hour or so -- and it usually does -- I proceed to call them from Skype or my office phone.

If it can't wait at all -- almost never happens -- I fork out the airtime for the phone call. After all, I got my cell phone exactly for situations like those!

(3) When I want to chat, I do it from work or from Skype. When I want to communicate something on the go, I text. It's 5 cents for me.

I do, however, use cell phone voice service whenever I need to sync up meeting friends in crowded places. For instance, if I need to pick them out of a line to a concert. Conversations like "Are you there? Where are you? Do you see me? Okay, I see you!" never take more than one minute anyway -- and it's USELESS to ask someone to tell you where they are over SMS.
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I have to say, Virgin for me can't be beat with its free incoming messages (omg, I have Google Calendar send me alerts to my phone for free! It's the swellest keenest thing, folks! =) ).

I'm entering this contest because I intend to purchase a Speak Out SIM card for my mom, who lives in the States and comes to visit me in Canada every once in a while. Last time she came, her US cell phone company billed her for $200 worth of roaming! (turned out they charged $1.20 per minute. Plus taxes. Ouch.) This way she can maintain a canadian number at only $25 a year, pay 20cents/minute and still use her american GSM phone, that has all the important phone numbers in it.

I just bought my PCan 2630 and probably used a small chunk of airtime just testing features.

Like most others, only a few family members have the number (3) and I check messages using the landline. However, my purpose was to have an inexpensive cell for times when needed. For me it's a functional, not a social device. So if the contractor I've hired needs to contact me when I'm on the road he/she can. The phone is not used for chatting.

I am experimenting with text messaging for the first time and find it a great inexpensive tool. I think Yak Mobile would be helpful too for long distance.

I don''t like talking on cell phones and really don't know how people have whole hour long conversions on them walking down the street.

SO is great to limit the phone usage. We got it for emergencies and to contact one another when the baby is getting fussy 🙂

When it comes time to gab on the phone, we use a VoIP landline - I've got a $20/month plan with Vonage that gives us 500 minutes of free long distance anywhere in North America.

I also try to use text messages when passing along addresses or phone numbers, especially since SMS is cheaper than voice and avoids having to hold a phone to your head.

My wife has always been reluctant to use mobile phones because of concerns about the health effects of RF, so she's a great influence on me - her calls are always short and to the point.

I'm glad I found this forum last year - it's saved me hundreds of dollars and dramatically changed the way I think about my phone (I laugh whenever I hear the phrase, "system access fee" and grin when people start raving about Kodoo's new "low prices).

As a result, when I had to top up at 364th day of having my service, my balance was >$86 -- I spent $7 on calls for the entire year, and $12 on 9-11 fees.

One other cost-saving feature that I should mention. It costs only 5¢ when someone in Canada sends you a text message. If they don't have a cellphone there are several services that will send an SMS from e-mail for free. See the FAQ for links.

As for when I actually need to make a call, I'm a big borrower. I'll use my wife's phone, friend's phone or even ask a store clerk if I can use their phone (!) before I use my own.

I can't say that I go to ridiculous lengths to avoid using the cell phone - after all there is a reason for buying it in the first place.

I leave mine on at all times (battery lasts 15 full days on standby), but with the ringer set to vibrate only. This way it acts like a pager. Like the replies above, I rarely answer it unless I have to (e.g. wife calling), and leave it to voicemail. Then I will turn it off and pick up my voicemail using a landline. And I rarely give out my phone number.

For outgoing calls, well let's face it - less than one minute on the cell is a bit cheaper (5 cents is 5 cents!) and a heck of a lot more convenient than hunting around for a pay phone.

So I say to all of you hiding your cell phone in the glove compartment "for emergency use only" - carry it proudly with you everywhere.

By the way, I normally receive the voicemail by the landline, too. It will also save my money.

hold a valid amateur radio license

73 OM 😉

(BTW my 93 year old dad still says "over" at the end of every message he leaves on our answering machine.)