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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Cell-Phone M'Ishar, Kosher cell phone in America - Review - Pros and Cons

The so-called Kosher cell phone, the Cell-Phone M'Ishar, has finally made it to America. The cell phone, which is available to the Heimishe Oilem in America now, bears the symbol of approval by the Vaad HaRabonim that are in charge of approving cell phones for use as Kosher. The phone is a Samsung SPH A660 color screen flip phone with a nice big M'Ishar logo on the front and another one set as the phone's wallpaper. The phone functions as any other Sprint phone, only it has the internet and text messaging features locked out. Also, in order to help identify the M'Ishar users, every subscriber will have a phone number with a specific designated prefix that will be unique to M'Ishar users. Also when calling another phone from a M'Ishar phone the owner's name will not come up on the caller ID, rather the word M'Ishar and the phone number will come up instead.
Now, here are some of the main drawbacks to the M'Ishar Cell Phone. There is only one phone and one carrier available as of now. While the Vaad promises to continue to add phones as time goes by, how efficient can they really be. Further, to most people their phone number is like their name, how many people will be willing to give that up and change their number. Also, the model that was chosen is a very low-end old model without any of the new features that people have gotten used to. For example, the A660 has no caller ID screen on the front of the phone, forcing the person to have to open the flip each time he receives a call to see who it is. Also the A660 has no Bluetooth for hands-free talking. If they were going to put so much time and effort into this idea, they should have rather put it into a better phone. Further, the supposed Vaad did not make the effort to have the Samsung company delete the internet and messaging capabilities from the phone's software, but rather had them just lock it. The codes to unlock these features are already available on the internet, easily enabling the phone to seem Kosher while it really is not. Also, I wonder how many people are interested in having their caller ID come up as M'Ishar when calling someone, like maybe a business contact or something like that. Another point is, that there are many people that depend on e-mailing and text-messaging from their phone for business or announcements and reminders, is it realistically possible for these people to give this up. And what exactly is the concern about text-messaging anyway. Aside from all these points, what kind of bullying tactics will this Vaad impose in order to assure that people actually buy this phone. Will they start threatening to throw kids out of Yeshivah if their parents don't buy this phone? Will they throw pashkevilin at stores that continue to sell other phones that are not deemed Kosher? These are all questions that need to be considered before we let some unnamed Vaad claim power over us. Now, while Kosher cell-phones are a great idea, they have to be done the right way by the right people and they have to be overseen by trusted, truly responsible and truly Ehrliche Rabbonim.

Comments:
Talibanism has arrived.

 

stores that sell these so called kosher phones continue to sell tv's dvd's vcr's
seriously who looks at porn on a cell phone?
what is wrong with text messages
one thing you got wrong is that you are able to keep your current phone number

 

With any cell phone you can have text messaging and internet access blocked out. Also there are parental control features you can enable. We have done it not just on our daughter's phone but also ours, because if you push one of those internet buttons by mistake you get charged. Who needs the extra charge.

 

Which Vaad HaRabonim?

 

What we're really missing is a Hechsher on Toilet Paper.

Is there an extra fee for the use or purchase of this Kosher phone? There must be a money angle somewhere.

 

You can unlock the sim of the kosher cellphones in Israel for 50 shkolim and use them in regular, non-kosher cellphone.

 

Don't forget the main problems in this world are Camera phones and colored screens

 

I'M FED UP !!

I'VE HAD ENUFF !!!!!

IF YOU MILITARIZE YIDDISHKEIT, YOU WILL END UP WITH SOLDIERS GOING A.W.O.L. -- C'V LEAVING THE 'ARMY OF HASHEM'.

WE HAVE A SHULCHAN ORECH TO GUIDE US RE: ISSUR/HETER, TUMAH/TAHARA,
CHAYEV/POTOR, ETC. LET'S STICK TO BASIC HALACHA AND ENJOY OUR MITZVAH ADHERENCE WITHOUT GOING MENTALLY DERRANGED !!!

 

The rabbonim of this generation are mostly Eruv Rav acc. to Rav Elchonon Wasserman ZT"L. Use your own discretion if you want to listen to them or not. Otherwise just try to be a Torahdick Yid and follow the Shulchan Oruch.

 

8:24 PM

I'M FED UP !!

I'VE HAD ENUFF !!!!!

IF YOU MILITARIZE YIDDISHKEIT, YOU WILL END UP WITH SOLDIERS GOING A.W.O.L. -- C'V LEAVING THE 'ARMY OF HASHEM'.

WE HAVE A SHULCHAN ORECH TO GUIDE US RE: ISSUR/HETER, TUMAH/TAHARA,
CHAYEV/POTOR, ETC. LET'S STICK TO BASIC HALACHA AND ENJOY OUR MITZVAH ADHERENCE WITHOUT GOING MENTALLY DERRANGED !!!
=================================
if these bathroom Gedolim had real jobs this world would be a much happier place.
they are dead bored from just sitting and doing nothing so they look for more things to ban.

 

It reminds me of the "Shlissel Gelt" issue in Willy years ago.
It's like the computer generated flyers assering computers.

 

I guess people do not just want to have a kosher cell phone; they want to announce to the world that they use it. That is why it has a logo on the front and it shows up on other people’s caller ID that you are using the kosher phone when a user calls someone. It is religious devotion as a status symbol and fashion statement in a society that does not allow people to express much individuality. I guess frumkeit is the new black.

On another note, I like your blog, but you should really break down long pieces into separate paragraphs.

 

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