Cell Phones and the PI

[Michael Harris]

Cell Phones Reveal Love Affairs in Italy

Sun Sep 28, 1:19 PM

By TOM RACHMAN, Associated Press Writer

ROME - Italy's love affair with text messaging is having an unexpected consequence: Cell phones have become a leading giveaway of secret affairs.

Snooping spouses are finding amorous messages, as well as inexplicable phone numbers, stored in the memory of mobile phones.

Divorce lawyers are ecstatic, magazines are warning readers to watch out, and one private investigator has even issued "Five Golden Rules" on how to cheat with a cell phone and not get caught.

Antonella, a 19-year-old art student who declined to give her last name, recounted an ugly experience involving a boyfriend and a mobile.

"We were looking at the cell phone together because he was expecting a message from a relative," she said. "Instead, it was from a girl saying she'd had a lovely time with him last night and sending him lots of kisses."

Their breakup came soon after.

Private eye Miriam Tomponzi says a study by her firm found cell phones involved in nearly nine of every 10 discovered affairs in Italy. As an antidote, her agency has offered up its five rules to avoid discovery.

One trick is to immediately delete call records from phone memory, as well as text messages _ "even the most beautiful," the agency advises wistfully. Another tip, for when a paramour's call comes when a spouse is present, is to fake a normal work conversation.

"Practice this by yourself in a closed room in front of a mirror and in a loud voice," the agency exhorts.

Tomponzi, speaking in an office stuffed with old-school sleuthing tools like the magnifying glass, explained why text messaging appeals to the unfaithful.

"Say I'm talking to you, I can write a text message to my lover without you realizing," she said. "I send it calmly, it's done. But a phone call I couldn't do, right? 'Amore, I love you, I want you' _ written I can do it, verbally I can't. This is the convenience of the short messages."

Divorce lawyer Cesare Rimini said text messages have taken the place once held by love letters.

"Secret affairs are discovered by what? Through communication," he said. "Communication at one time was letters _ I've joked that it was once even Morse code. Today, the methods of communication are these."

That mobiles should intersect with love in Italy is not surprising.

Rarely does a crowd of Italians gather without at least one punching out a text message on a cell phone. The telltale beep of an incoming message will send them fumbling excitedly for their phones. It is like passing notes in school, only on a national level.

Even the Vatican now sends urgent notes to journalists using phone messaging.

Cell phone use is high in much of Europe, and Italy has one of the highest levels of all. In a nation of 58 million people, there are 53 million mobile subscriptions _ a market penetration of 92.4 percent, says the industry review Mobile Communications. The United States has only about 50 percent penetration, editor Shani Raja said.

The figures don't mean 53 million Italians have cell phones. Some people have more than one account.

Some customers use one mobile phone account for work calls and another for family and friends. In some cases, however, the reason may be less innocent.

Mobile operator Vodafone Omnitel has made life easier for those wanting multiple numbers. Its Alter Ego service gives subscribers two separate numbers on the same microchip.

Asked about the cheating possibilities this offers, Vodafone spokeswoman Silvia de Blasio said that wasn't the intent.

"Services that you have on your mobile phone help your mobility, and allow you to have a more easy life _ more easy, but not necessarily to betray your wife or husband," she said.

"Maybe it's also useful for that; I don't know. In their private life, our clients do what they want."

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. updated

[Mr Jose Bonavich Jr]

Michael,

I read this story this morning and thought it was to funny :D

Just goes to show how technology is definately a handicap when "cheating" on your spouse.

[Michael Harris]

Leisl,

In a country known for extramarital affairs, I would have expected this. :o

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Every domain in the world has good and unpleasant sides. The cell-phone is a very remarkable invention but it also has dark sides (i.e. when cheating on your wife) ...without reading the owner's manual (i.e. deleting old mail).

In this respect, I think the Germans are less likely to hire P.I. than the Italians.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

My daughter and I just got new phones because our old phones died - they were 3 years old, well past the expected life of 1 1/2 years.

The new phones came with a 125 page users manual and an instructional CD! :eek:

I can use enough functions to place a call, receive a call, recharge the battery, and save phone numbers. Actually, I can do speed dialing and voice dialing, but I could survive without them.:o

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

I do the same thing as you do (with respect to cell-phone). I was talking about Germans. I am convinced that 90% of them will carefully read the manual. It's one of their distinctive features. Or, at least, it used to be. I left Europe 12 years ago...

Dragos

[Tina M Phillips]

Michael,

This is a good one. Cell phones are no different than pagers, love letters, voicemail, email, etc. If you are doing something you should not be doing, then you will be caught eventually.


:p

[Michael Harris]

Tina,

You are right. The tool does not matter if you are doing something bad or wrong with it. Eventually, you will get caught.

My wife still has not mastered her single function cell phone.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael, Tina,

I am wondering if Machiavelli, when launching his famous "The goal excuses the tools" had a premonition regarding the cell phone.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

Unfortunately, Machiavelli was a political suck-up. His best-known work - The Prince - did not express his true feelings.

I spent many hours last week reading Machiavelli. I read each chapter followed by a reading of Cliffs Notes.

I frequently use Cliffs Notes along with a significant book - it helps me understand the book better.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

Unfortunately, there are a lot of politicians strictly applying Machiavelli's concepts (knowingly or not).

The Prince (the only book he writed) was conceived as a replica for a book writen about fifty years before (1400...), by Baldasare Castiglione, about the same subject: political pover. This could be the reason of an altered perception.

In fact, his true feelings remain an unknown for eternity.

At a general scale he is survived and remembered mainly by his quotas. I just mentioned one of them.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

Machiavelli wanted a single unified republic for Italy. He was a diplomat and had seen how well France worked.

[Tina M Phillips]

That's an interesting fellow. I haven't read much from him but there is more to be said then we have time for. That's for sure!:o

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

He started the modern diplomacy of Evil.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Tina,

Yes, he was a very interesting fellow but I do not like him :D
He looked like a snake...

[Tina M Phillips]

Originally posted by Dragos Sfinteanu
Tina,

Yes, he was a very interesting fellow but I do not like him :D
He looked like a snake...


Dragos

True, you are. He was character with alot of stories behind him.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos/Tina,

I will go to the After-Hours Forum for more on Machiavelli.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael, Tina,

Let him alone. We have subjects and topics more actual, some of them really "hot", like the Pledge...

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

Too late, I have already posted my comments on Machiavelli.

He really is an important resource in our times to see why so many are evil.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

The Pledge issue is 'hot', but what solutions can you suggest?

I can think of writing and emailing my elected officials - I am very good at that. Unfortunately, many legislators have disabled their email capability so that they will not be buried under millions of email messages.

I have ten active email accounts and I sometimes use all of them for the same message - it makes the recipient think that I am ten different people.

The Pledge ball is in your court.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

It is telepathy!

I was writing a post for the Pledge. I stopped and canceled (I did not like it). I started again, changing ideas, stopped again, suddently leaving and landing here...

I would like very much to play the ball.

I also thought to write to my elected officials. I already did it once,
writing to Sen. Diane Feinstein (environmental issue). In this case, I do not know what her beliefs are in the matter, that would count very much in the balance. Also, I am skeptical that our elected officials would intervene in a debate that involves two distinct sides (one - very outcrying)....especially in a time when the next elections are knocking at the door.

As far as I know, this year will bring the light at the end of the tunnel: The Supreme Court will decide in this matter. Officially!

My opinion is that, until something happens officially, we should act, all of us. It is not only you and me. I was impressed by Karen's post, and there are also many others. It seems that is our duty to play the ball.

Waiting for your answer, at the same topic.

"Magister dixit"... I noticed your preference for Latin ;)

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

The Pledge thread was getting hot. Donna posted nine comments and I posted six.

There is so much of interest and importance going on that I have to pick and choose.

I do beat up on my state legislators more than the Federal ones because I am working local schools issues.

I do get responses. I do have advantages that most people do not have - I can legitimately sign my letters and emails as Doctor, The Reverend Doctor, or Owner/Principal.

I have two earned doctorates and one of them is the basis for my ordination, so I can use the Reverend. As a business owner, I can push legislators and their aides around.

I also can use all of my ten active email accounts to snow them with volumes of mail. I will use any legal method I can.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

Indeed, you are able to use more channels. Also, your determination strengthens mines. I will act straight in the "battle field". See you there.

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

When your army is short on troops, we all have to wear many hats.:D

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

Yes, .... including intelligence :cool:

[Tina M Phillips]

Originally posted by Dragos Sfinteanu
Michael,

Yes, .... including intelligence :cool:


Dragos/Michael,

Wow! You guys keep me coming here for more. Thanks for your constant words of thought and knowledge.

[Michael Harris]

Tina,

We may have to move to a new forum to continue.:eek: :o

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael, Tina,

Move to a new forum or go (back) to cell phone :confused: :(

[Michael Harris]

Dragos,

Either move or get back on topic. Right now I am writing a monster piece on the separation of church and state for Carmen Acai.

[Dragos Sfinteanu]

Michael,

I am doing ... the same thing (slightly different subject) for Donna.

[Brandon Lewis]

With regard to the comments about cell phones and secret messages I witnessed this first hand while just recently in China. It would seem that many of the Chinese are like the French and have a secret lover in addition to a married spouse. They use their cells to instant text one of the and actually call the other. I was so suprised to see this there of all places, but when I caught on I found there were more people than not that were doing it. All cultures are very different, yet more alike than they want to believe.

Don't you think? :confused:

[Wayne Specie -]

Cell phones can make things easier in many respects, but only if people use them responsibly. What comes to mind when I say responsibly is actually things like talking and driving, but I think using them to cheat on spouse definitely applies. And seperation of Church and State is definitely a hot topic worthy of discussion.

[Carolyn Peddicord -]

This was very informative.

Thanks for posting.

[Donald Perot]

I agree with Micheal and Tina, if your doing wrong eventually you will get caught.

[Thomas L McCauley]

Back to the subject of cell phones for just a minute - and I think that I may have previously stated this in a different forum, but. If, in the course of your investigation, you are presented with a telephone number - there are several programs out there where you can do a reverse search - but only a few that can determine if the number is a landline or a cellular telephone. One of my favorites is

www.searchbug.com

Putting in the area code and the prefix will give you the company and location (city only) of the phone company if it is a landline and the cellular company and city if it is a cell phone.

There are also provisions here to do the usual reverse searches, searches by address, etc. But I use this the most just to determine the location of a number and whether it is a cell or landline.

Hope this is helpful to somebody.

[Michael Harris]

Thomas,

www.searchbug.com works as well as any of the free services. It took three tries to find myself.

[Mary Cervantes]

Very informative.. Thanks for the info.:D

Mary

[William H Van Meter]

Originally posted by Dragos Sfinteanu
Michael, Tina,

Move to a new forum or go (back) to cell phone :confused: :(

I agree with you lets get back to the subject of Cell phones.:confused: :mad:

[Maria Jonas]

Ok, I just thought of a movie for example. Has anyone seen Brown Sugar? One of the important forshadowing moments is when Taye Diggs and his new wife accidentally switched cell phones and she said "Honey, your exes kept calling me all day." Later in the movie, you realize they switched phones again and her phone had a text message which was from the guy she was cheating with.
That's how he found out they were meeting that night.

Lesson learned: Get a different phone type from your spouse/love interest.

[Georgina Laesch Colvin]

Thanks for the information. Great research on your part. I knew they had a leak with their memory cards, all of the other information was great and ironically true yet funny!! Georgina Laesch

[Tomas Clark]

Alright, shoot with the church and state thing.

[Dawn Neal]

Well this was a very enlighting topic for the morning. I lost track of what topic I was actually reading on. The cell phone has many different uses and it is up to the individual to use it to their advantage or against them and some people us just make bad choices.

[Tiffiny Dixon]

Cell Phones,wow what an exciting topic.I've had my encounters with them,and Itrully find them to be a pain in the bottom.Ecspecially when it comes to teens and cell phones.But I've learn to adapt to my surroundings,it's like you don't have a choice any more.

[Leeayn Chapman -]

My husband's cell phone was what changed his status to ex-husband! He had been acting strangely, so one night when he was asleep, I took his cell phone and went to the call log screen and found several girls' names typed in - DUH! If he'd just stuck to the numbers, I might have had a harder time figuring it out. Several girls names entered in??!! Guys - if you're gonna cheat,be smart about it! Never cheat on a PI! <BG>

[Maria Jonas]

Amen!!!!! I love cell phones!! lol

[Gunnard Lundberg]

Thought I seen it all, was in 7-11 and seen thrown away phones. Use it for 20 hours and throw it. :rolleyes:

[Joseph Krause]

Thanks for the Cell phone article. It was very interesting and informative. I sure there are many people like me who would not think to erase that information. Glad I don't cheat!

Joe Krause

[Jerome Isaac]

Hi all; I to also taught that the article "Cell Phone and the PI" was very educational and informative. Thanks Michael! I'm very new to these forums and would like to say that I'm very happy to be a part of this rapid growing community of (PI's). Since I learn by asking questions; I would like someone to help me understand the actions and services provided by that Private Investigative firm; "Their antidote offered five rules to avoid discovery?"

Now I can understand if they were on a Overt/covert; surveillance etc etc.. operation; and needed to avoid discovery and used their rule of thumb.

I guess my question is: Knowing that someone can or will use their antidote to cheat; Is it still ok to provide such survices?

( Can someone please clearify ) and Thanks in advance for your time...

[Michael Runner]

Back to cell phones:

I heard before Jennifer Lopez Ben Aflick had his assistant carry about 5 cell phones, with the name of each girl he had given the number to taped on the phone.

[Julie Mercer -]

Thomas,
I never heard of this website before, you can bet that is going on my favorites!

Julie Mercer

[Paul Tetrault -]

Hello to All,

Seeing how we are on the cell phone affair topic, i thought i would as this funny story.

My buddy and I were hanging out one night and we were on our way home. He had asked me to use my cell phone to call his girlfriend....So he makes the call. Well he was finishing up his conversation and then hits the button to end the call....puts it down by the side of seat and then we start gabbing again. He was telling me about this woman he had went out with ...and well....he got descriptive. So, i drop him off at his house and then head back to mine. Half way down the road i hear a squacking noise ,"kind of sounded like i bird." I lean out my window thinking i had one stuck in the grill of my truck...lol , nothing. I then had happened to look down at my cell and the light was on. I picked up the phone and it was his girlfriend. ughhhhhhhhhhh she had told me she heard everything. He had hit the wrong button...lol So, she says she is going to call him at home and when she hung up i had dialed his house to tell him....He answers and i tell him that she heard everything and she is calling...He says to me ," i know im on the other line with her....double ughhhhhhhhhhhhh....Well lets just say things werent good after that.

Moral of the story...before you tell one,make sure the phone conversation has ended. :)

[Denise Damazio]

Paul,

Bet your friend had to do alot of talking to get out of that
one! :eek:


Denise

[Paul Tetrault -]

Paul,

Bet your friend had to do alot of talking to get out of that
one! :eek:


Denise

Hey Denise,

Great to hear from you again !!!! Actually he did really well. :) He actually convinced her that he was just trying to impress me and it was all made up...........lol. Of course afterwards he looked like a loserrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ..It did work. Few months later they did end up breaking up.

[Bozica N Newell]

I guess it goes to show that stupid is as stupid does when it comes to cell phones that is LOL. Interestinf story to say the least, you do catch husband and wives through the cell phone quite easily due to the fact they don't delete their messages. Definately shines a bright light for divorce lawyers,amongst heartbreak and embaressment for the cheating party!

[Denise Damazio]

That is tooooo funny Paul :D Men most always get caught one way or the other.... :eek:

Have a great week! :)

Denise

[Julie Mercer -]

Paul,
Great story, for an outsider!
Julie

[Frederick Budde]

RE: Cell phones
I'm due (overdue) for an upgrade. Any personal preferences out there? I see Michael Harris states the expected life is 1 1/2 years, but I've had my Nikia for about 4. I definitely want to go with a "folding" phone next time, the Motorola Startac was the best I ever had. Suggestions, please!
By the way, I use T-Mobile as a carrier, and would like to stay with them.

[Leslie Stubbs-Hanks]

:) I have T-Mobile also. Just two weeks ago purchased the EasySpeak by Motorola. It has Text Messages, Voicemail, caller ID 3-way Conference Calling. Might come in handy when I get out on a job.

I think it is good. I also wanted to stay with T-Mobile.

[Stephen Scheel -]

I am all for high tech stuff. I want a pda phone. I would suggest that. I know it isn't a flip phone. There is another phone that nokia makes. t looks just like the phone that made them popular. Except that the key pay flap to the right to expose a computer screen and mini keyboard.

[Leslie Stubbs-Hanks]

Yes you are correct. I have seen one of that type. That's high-tech.

Thanks

[Stephen Scheel -]

I really want one of those. I think they are the coolest. I think they have 1024 bit encryption too but don't hold me to it.

[Stephen Scheel -]

for flip phone I would suggest the ones with a camera. go with the ones with the high resolution graphics. You never know when you need a camera. They always come in handy for something. In a cell phone is the best place because it beats lugging you 35 mil everywhere and it saves pocket space.

[Marcus Harris]

[B]i am still laughing so hard that i am crying about the buddy and non-disconnected cell phone.Oh my heavens i feel sorry for him,but,if you play your gonna pay is what they always say.I do thank all of you for the wonderful stories though, it has been quite the eye-opener for all of us i do believe.I have nextel service and in my opinion that service is the best for the money.I have the free incoming call plan and I love it.

[Stephen Scheel -]

you know I find this particularly funny. I was stationed over sees and bought a cell phone there. They are ran by Telekom. Telekom of course is a monoploy in Germany for communications. They do not charge for incoming calls just out going. It is not like that here in the states though. I feel like I am getting ripped off a little. It isn't just Telekom. It is ALL US cell-phone companies.

[Frederick Budde]

I am all for high tech stuff. I want a pda phone. I would suggest that. I know it isn't a flip phone. There is another phone that nokia makes. t looks just like the phone that made them popular. Except that the key pay flap to the right to expose a computer screen and mini keyboard.
Thanks. I've used a PDA phone in the past, but went back to separate phone & PDA. I didn't want to risk losing the PDA with all that information on it. They're still rather large to carry in one's pocket. I think I'll go either with Motorola or the Samsung.

[Leslie Stubbs-Hanks]

:) Thanks, and I do like the Motorola. It is a good product in my opinion.

[Frederick Budde]

:) Thanks, and I do like the Motorola. It is a good product in my opinion.
I wonder if the Startac is still a viable cell phone, since it's not digital. :confused:

[Leslie Stubbs-Hanks]

Fritz, I really have not heard of the "Startac", perhaps because it isn't digital? I will research and get back to the forum with my findings.

[Antonia White]

This cell phone thing is a no brainer now a days, unless the affairs are between two individuals that are "ignorant" to technology!!

[Michael Harris]

Fritz, I really have not heard of the "Startac", perhaps because it isn't digital? I will research and get back to the forum with my findings.
Leslie,

I have not heard of Startac in many years. It was top of the line, I believe, in the dim past.

[Michael Harris]

Stephen,

I want a phone to make and receive calls. My phone - already 13 months old - has so many features that I did not even look at all of them. My phone came with a 60-page users manual and a CD-ROM intructional guide.

It reminds me of my first slide rule - came with a 125-page hardback users manual. If you do not know what a slide rule is, do not worry, they are obsolete.

[Stephen Scheel -]

Actually, I always wanted to learn to use the slide rule. They wrok well when you are doing stuff and the power is out. I found out after having my phone that it was voice activated. Mine by no means is top of the line shtuff. I can't afford the way cool stuff yet.

[Michael Harris]

Stephen,

My slide rule had 23 scales on it. It was made of laminated bamboo and worked beautifully. Hand-held calculators were not available, and the desktop calulators were big and clunky. The HP we used in the physics lab did help us learn the basics of programming languages.

I have programmed my almost obsolete cell phone to respond to about a half dozen names. I do not need to have more than that. My daughter broke her cell phone (just like mine) and I could not replace it with a similar one. Hers has a speaker phone - great for NJ where we are hands-free by law. I still prefer the little earbud with the short boom mike.

I could not survive without a cell phone in one of my businesses.

[Stephen Scheel -]

I know what you mean. Everyone is dependant on technology. Look at the computer. It is getting harder to get around without one. Also look at the internet. Jus t so much technology to depend on. We are live sci fi my friend. hey, I may only be 24 but I have experienced a lot of old technologies. I have seen those calculator that are bigger than my laptop. We have things that sci fi writer such as Ray Bradbury never dreamed of. Another funny thing to note is that our technology is in direct competition with sci fi these days. The moment that the sci-fi writers dream it, it seems that it hits the market.

[Gary Eads]

In todays world I don't see how anyone can get by without a cell phone and a computer and it seems their out dated by the time you buy them, we will never be able too keep up.

[Shelley M Parker -]

I would agree with you Gary!!!!

I don't see how people live and work without computers and cell phones - moreso laptops, wireless internet access and high-speed......wow! We are pretty spoiled with our technology, aren't we?

As for technology being outdated, both when and before we buy it.....it reminds me of radar detectors too!!!

[Frederick Budde]

Gee guys, I think I started a new thread without even knowing it. Yes the Startac was a great phone, but it was not digital. I remember selling the first "true" hand-held calculators for Sharp in Germany. It was the size of today's desk phone, and the medical community went bonkers when they came out; I couldn't get them fast enough! I've had laptops the size of suitcases, and of course had the original PalmPilot. I guess I'm both showing my age and the fact that I'm a nut about having the latest toys!

[Flora Porter]

for flip phone I would suggest the ones with a camera. go with the ones with the high resolution graphics. You never know when you need a camera. They always come in handy for something. In a cell phone is the best place because it beats lugging you 35 mil everywhere and it saves pocket space.
Hi Stephen,

I just want to agree with the choice flip phone with a camera ;) This is just so great what technology has done.
My son has one and showed me how to take the picture.
Wow, this is awesome. Talk one minute capture some live shots. I cant get over how much can be done with this one phone. It's amazing. What's next?

P.I.Trainee
Flora Porter

[Bozica N Newell]

Startec is about 3-5 years old you can still hook them up and they are made yes by Motorola I have one that was given to me as a gift have not turned it on but it has basic features not like the newer ones that have been coming out.

[Frederick Budde]

Startec is about 3-5 years old you can still hook them up and they are made yes by Motorola I have one that was given to me as a gift have not turned it on but it has basic features not like the newer ones that have been coming out.
Do you think any of the carriers will still support it? I still have mine (all the other phones were given to organizations that support battered women) and would hook it up in a minute. The battery time is poor, due to it's being analog, but it's so d**n handy!

[Shelley M Parker -]

Frederick,

My father had a Star-Tac up until just a few months ago - when my little brother gave him a new cell phone for Father's Day. He was still receiving service from a carrier - Verizon - I believe.

I will see him this evening, at which time I will confirm with him, and get back to you. It will probably be in the morning.

Talk to you soon. Maybe you will luck out and get an answer before I can get back to you. Have a great day!

[Frederick Budde]

Frederick,

My father had a Star-Tac up until just a few months ago - when my little brother gave him a new cell phone for Father's Day. He was still receiving service from a carrier - Verizon - I believe.

I will see him this evening, at which time I will confirm with him, and get back to you. It will probably be in the morning.

Talk to you soon. Maybe you will luck out and get an answer before I can get back to you. Have a great day!
That would be super! Have a great weekend, Shelley :)

[Shelley M Parker -]

That would be super! Have a great weekend, Shelley :)


Frederick:

Sorry for the delay in the reply. I had a family emergency to tend to. My father had his Star-Tac activated through Verizon just as I had suspected. Good luck....

Shelley

[Stephen Scheel -]

Like I said we live in the Sci Fi day and age. We already have things that werre only in the movies five years ago.

[Frederick Budde]

Frederick:

Sorry for the delay in the reply. I had a family emergency to tend to. My father had his Star-Tac activated through Verizon just as I had suspected. Good luck....

Shelley
Tyanks for the info, Shelley! Hope everything is OK at your end.

[Shelley M Parker -]

All is well Frederick! Thanks for your kind words. Have a great one!

[Frederick Budde]

All is well Frederick! Thanks for your kind words. Have a great one!
You too, have a great week!

[Shelley M Parker -]

Frederick:

Were you able to make any progress with your Star-Tac? Just curious.

Shelley

[Frederick Budde]

Frederick:

Were you able to make any progress with your Star-Tac? Just curious.

Shelley
Hi Shelley;
I haven't had time to pursue it. I'm carrying two phones now as it is; maybe after the elections things will quiet down and I can see about activating the StarTac. ;)

[Patti Schubert -]

That is funny. So if your doing something wrong, watch out! :D

Patti

[Amalia Martinelli]

I especially love the Samsung phones. You can do everything with it. Except for the GPS which I think is the most fabulous thing they have done to phones yet. Hopefully Sprint or somebody will put those on their phones. Maybe then I wouldn't get lost all the time. Or at least as lost. :D

[Vincent Matozzo]

Michael,
Excellent story.. Just a thought could text messages be used as admissible evidence in court?

[Michael Harris]

Vincent,

If the messages are stored somewhere, they would be subject to discorvery. I worked for a large firm that had all emails stored in the company's computer cernter in Denver. Every message went there and was available to anyone with a court order.

If text mesages are stored - permanently - by the provider, they could be subject to review under a court order.

This is an aside, but written to help put things in perspective. If you are a senior manager with any company, your notes of staff meetings (with other senior managers) are not subject to discovery - except. The exception is if you use an Engineering Notebook for your notes. Engineering Notebooks have prenumbered pages and are saddle-stitched in a hard binding. These are used for support of patents, etc. and have standing in court.

Your questions raises an interesting point - I hope that someone in the forums has an answer. The answer may be simply that a wireless carrier (say Verizon Wireless) stores the text messages permanently or for some fixed period of time. We might get a definitive answer or we might get a preview of legal intrusion to come.

[Frederick Budde]

Vincent,



The exception is if you use an Engineering Notebook for your notes. Engineering Notebooks have prenumbered pages and are saddle-stitched in a hard binding. These are used for support of patents, etc. and have standing in court.

Your questions raises an interesting point - I hope that someone in the forums has an answer. The answer may be simply that a wireless carrier (say Verizon Wireless) stores the text messages permanently or for some fixed period of time. We might get a definitive answer or we might get a preview of legal intrusion to come.
Thanks for the information, Michael

[Kathy Geiger -]

I knew if I just looked on the forums, I would get the answer to my questions about cell phones. You folks are awesome, all of you, and so helpful. Thanks a lot.

[Matthew Thompson -]

I know i would be lost without a cell phone, and i know a few people who also have gotten caught up in the text messaging affair.....