| Pagers have come a long way in recent years. | | | | anyone. Lots of people find them more |
| With those old-school versions, all you could do | | | | convenient to use (and cheaper!) than a cell phone. |
| was receive numbers. You would get a page, and | | | | Numeric versions just give you the phone |
| it would just give you a series of numbers to call | | | | number, and then you have to go and call the |
| back. | | | | person. But, with their text options, they allow |
| Like everything else in our high-tech world, these | | | | you to communicate immediately and directly. |
| tools are improving every year. Now, you can get | | | | These advanced tools are a great way for |
| news headlines, text messages and tons of | | | | businesspeople to communicate with clients when |
| features like voice mail with a simple, inexpensive | | | | they are away from the desk. If you absolutely |
| model. | | | | need to be reachable at all times, an alpha |
| Why Alpha-Numeric Pagers Are Different | | | | numeric pager can be essential. |
| "Alpha-numeric" means that you get the alphabet | | | | What Services Are Available? |
| along with your numbers. Now you have the | | | | The latest models come with lots of features; it's |
| entire alphabet soup to work with. It's a standard | | | | just a matter of what you want to do with them. |
| feature these days that most pagers can do text | | | | You can go as simple or as complex as you want |
| messaging. | | | | to. |
| So, how long of a message do you want to | | | | Storage - All alpha numeric pagers have storage |
| write? You'll want to think about this when you | | | | options. You can get expanded memory, where |
| are shopping around. There are 1-way and 2-way | | | | you can save all your messages, as well as phone |
| styles. With a two way, you can send as well as | | | | numbers and other contact information. You can |
| receive messages. | | | | use it as your tiny pocket rolodex. |
| Different services offer different word limits. For | | | | Range - Most services will allow you to choose |
| example, the simplest plans start at 240 | | | | how far you would like your range to extend. For |
| characters. This means letters, not words. It's not | | | | example, you can choose nationwide paging and |
| a whole lot, but it's enough to say "meet me at | | | | keep in touch anywhere in the country. Unlike |
| such-and-such a place at such-and-such a time." | | | | cell-phone roaming charges, nationwide service is |
| You can't get one big enough to write the Great | | | | usually not much more than local service. |
| American Novel on, but you can get those that | | | | Internet - The latest models have Internet |
| allow you more characters if you need them. Still, | | | | capabilities. Right now, these services are fairly |
| there are some that allow you to write up to 500 | | | | limited, but new models with expanded features |
| characters or more in a message. | | | | are coming out every year. With some new |
| Most of these sophisticated two way models | | | | styles, you can access your e-mail anywhere with |
| have a small keyboard attached. You won't be | | | | your own tiny pocket computer. |
| able to touch-type on it unless you have tiny | | | | Alpha numeric pagers can be useful for anyone, |
| fingers, but it'll get the job done. Manufacturers | | | | from family members who want to keep in |
| are always working on new ways to make | | | | touch, to small business owners who find the |
| entering text easier. | | | | communication tool indispensable. And, there is |
| Who Can Use An Alpha-Numeric Pager? | | | | always something new coming out every year! |
| An alpha-numeric pager can come in handy for | | | | |