I used to wear a watch that received email and SMS Text messages over the pager network. These watches are no longer made. Advantages: I did not have to carry a cell phone, battery life was around a month, I received messages where cell phone coverage was spotty, and I could still receive messages in areas where cell phones must be turned off. (i.e. airplane mode).
interesting! i never really thought about the wall penetration issue! however, if im a doctor in need of assistance, will my page not transmit the message? is messages only broadcast from a central transmitter?
I believe you miss the most important reasons. 1. You can build and own your own Pager transmitter tower. You can't own your own cell tower. 2. With pagers you buy and own the network, with a cell network you are relying on an outside enterty. Why these facts are so important is that it means that during a natural disaster or, good forbid, a war, the hospital has a self contained communication system that can be kept powered by their own back up generators. Cell networks tend to fail in these scenarios. I would even go as far as saying these are actually the main reason hospitals still use pagers
What do you think will eventually replace pagers in hospitals?
I used to wear a watch that received email and SMS Text messages over the pager network. These watches are no longer made.
Advantages: I did not have to carry a cell phone, battery life was around a month, I received messages where cell phone coverage was spotty, and I could still receive messages in areas where cell phones must be turned off. (i.e. airplane mode).
interesting! i never really thought about the wall penetration issue! however, if im a doctor in need of assistance, will my page not transmit the message? is messages only broadcast from a central transmitter?
Some pagers can transmit messages, but in most cases the messages are sent from a central transmitter. Thanks for watching!
I believe you miss the most important reasons.
1. You can build and own your own Pager transmitter tower. You can't own your own cell tower.
2. With pagers you buy and own the network, with a cell network you are relying on an outside enterty.
Why these facts are so important is that it means that during a natural disaster or, good forbid, a war, the hospital has a self contained communication system that can be kept powered by their own back up generators. Cell networks tend to fail in these scenarios.
I would even go as far as saying these are actually the main reason hospitals still use pagers