Overheard on CNN.com: Spectrum crunch and smart phone curmudgeons
February 21st, 2012
01:50 PM ET

Overheard on CNN.com: Spectrum crunch and smart phone curmudgeons

Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.

Wireless data use is growing at a dramatic rate in the United States and the wireless spectrum that carries phone calls, text messages and Internet services isn't growing fast enough to keep up with demand.

CNN Money is devoting a week of coverage to the "Spectrum Crunch" and readers also are weighing in on the problem.

Sorry, America: Your wireless airwaves are full

CashTheGreen: "This situation would be easily remedied if they would just invest more into upgrading their network and infrastructure, but no, the execs have to line their pockets instead. They won't care one bit about the company once they retire from their short careers with millions."

Alan Elliot "The fix is simpler than it looks, charge what is required to deliver a good quality of service. Maybe data plans will be $100/mo for 1G but it will stop all the mindless surfing and viewing of YouTube on phones. Perhaps the video won't be that funny when you realize it costs you $4.00 to view it."

leonard langsdorf says the spectrum crunch could be a big opportunity for a smart businessperson:

"Seems to me that the next killer app is the one that reduces network bandwidth for smart phones."

Others, like another_engineer, saw is as an opportunity to stamp out some bad behavior:

"Good, I'm sick to death of cell phones and their users. one would think that everyone on earth with a cell phone is a trauma surgeon the way they are "urgently" calling no matter where they are, grocery store, DRIVING.. I even heard a guy on the phone when he was taking a dump in a public restroom."

There also was a lot of debate about whether smartphones were even necessary.

Anon E. Mouse:
"It's not that I'm making some magnanimous effort to save the planet, but I still don't see a need to have a cell phone for any other purpose than making phone calls unless you're a company representative spending a lot of time on the road. Everyone else should be capable of waiting until he/she gets home or to the office to satisfy the addiction."

Thumbs
"There is no need for it, but there is a convenience. You also don't need a dish washer, a clothes dryer, a microwave, etc, but I bet you can't imagine not having them now."

What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or sound off on video via CNN iReport.

Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.

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Filed under: Overheard on CNN.com
soundoff (38 Responses)
  1. Scottish Mama

    Ham radios the future of 2012?

    February 22, 2012 at 12:24 am | Report abuse |
  2. Scottish Mama

    Jeff is talking Republican smack on Obama again.

    February 22, 2012 at 12:37 am | Report abuse |
  3. chrissy

    SSDD ya know! But its been a long day for me, im gonna call it a night. But dazzle is very nice to talk too. Shes TORIs mom. Good nite dazzle and mama.

    February 22, 2012 at 12:44 am | Report abuse |
  4. chrissy

    Omg! @ dazzle, a hotel??? What kinda work do you do???

    February 22, 2012 at 12:47 am | Report abuse |
    • dazzle ©

      @chrissy, one of my jobs is an executive in the hotel biz. He owns several hotels in my area. No worries, he swings the other way.

      February 22, 2012 at 12:55 am | Report abuse |
  5. Scottish Mama

    Good night Chrissy. Hope your hearts in the right place still.

    February 22, 2012 at 12:48 am | Report abuse |
  6. Scottish Mama

    Hotel does not sound safe.

    February 22, 2012 at 12:50 am | Report abuse |
  7. chrissy

    Lol @ mama, guess you know i gotta hang now, til i get the answer to that ? And yea my heart still in my chest, although other things may have shifted some! Lmfao!

    February 22, 2012 at 12:53 am | Report abuse |
    • Scottish Mama

      No worries for you then dazzle, unless he takes your blouse and wears it.lol

      February 22, 2012 at 12:59 am | Report abuse |
  8. Scottish Mama

    I won't bring up shiftin', I had to buy a dress for a wedding, jeez.

    February 22, 2012 at 1:00 am | Report abuse |
    • dazzle ©

      @Scottish Mama, he won't get near my blouse.

      February 22, 2012 at 1:59 am | Report abuse |
  9. chrissy

    Phew! Thank goodness! Lmao! Now i get the taking off of the name tags that you talked about earlier! One of your jobs? You ARE a workaholic too. Be careful with that, and im speaking from experience. 🙂

    February 22, 2012 at 1:02 am | Report abuse |
  10. chrissy

    Oh and dazzle, meet scottish mama! Shes one of our treasured ones! Ok well today was my volunteer day and im bushed. Have a good night ladies. Ta ta

    February 22, 2012 at 1:06 am | Report abuse |
  11. Scottish Mama

    Hi Dazzle I had seen you a couple of weeks ago. I do not come here as much as I used to.

    February 22, 2012 at 1:12 am | Report abuse |
    • dazzle ©

      Hi Scottish Mama, I haven't seen much of you. I usually show up late.

      February 22, 2012 at 1:56 am | Report abuse |
  12. Scottish Mama

    Night again Chrissy.

    February 22, 2012 at 1:14 am | Report abuse |
  13. patrick ©

    I am totally addicted to my Blackberry. By the way, I did not put my phone in stalker mode and send you a Pppphhhffftt text @dazzle. If you'd pick up your phone, I would like to say goodnight.

    February 22, 2012 at 2:19 am | Report abuse |
    • Patrick ©

      Having a little conversation with myself. Smart phones are only smart when the user knows what they are doing. Now that I can blog from my phone, I should have focused on properly putting in my user name instead of the trademark.

      February 22, 2012 at 2:41 am | Report abuse |
  14. scott shaffer

    There's a direct way to play it. It involves switching frequencies (cell to to Wifi etc).
    One company has the patent on that and one of the largest carriers is in talk to license it.

    http://theponderingprimate.blogspot.com/2012/02/spectrum-crunch-and-powerball-lottery.html

    February 22, 2012 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse |
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