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JASON OHLER Techwit

It all started when I bought one of those nifty doodle cell phones that can do everything. I set it on my kitchen counter one day and watched it make me a sandwich. But it wouldn't do the only thing I really wanted it to do - I couldn't get it to use my own music for my ring tones.

I emailed the manufacturer and the cell phone company for help. Everyone sent me polite form letters thanking me for buying their product before telling me that what I wanted to do was impossible. So I called them and logged hours of listening to "on hold" music. (Idea: How about some choice here? How about a recording that says "You'll probably be on hold for a few days, so please select the music you would like to listen to. Press 1 for country western, 2 gangsta rap...")

Finally I talked to a human (Remember humans? They're like cell phones except occasionally they work.) I tried not to sound desperate as I explained my need to use my own music for my ring tones. There was a long pause so I finally asked him what he was doing. He told me he was searching Google! I assured him I could do that without his help. He thought I was trying to end the conversation and started to hang up - politely of course. Wait! I pleaded. How about my question?! He admitted that he didn't have an answer. And how could he? One honest support person told me he's responsible for supporting 300 cell phones that come with no help from the manufacturer and which are on the verge of becoming obsolete just because they exist. Besides, he assured me, what I was trying to do was, well, impossible.

I finally prevailed. Three days, hours of on-hold music and tons of cryptic email messages later, I was listening to my own music when my cell phone rang. I sent all of my newfound propeller head friends the magic steps. They embraced me as one of them. Then I told my cell phone company I had done the impossible. I thought they'd offer me a trophy, or maybe a job. Instead they thanked me for buying their product and informed me that it had been discontinued.

What an interesting approach to business. Manufacturers make the stuff, cell phone companies sell the stuff, and customers support it. But look at the upside. It's how humans remain vital in a digitally overdone world full of rampaging obsolescence. As long as we are expected to fix our own stuff, we will never be obsolete. So this holiday season get someone a cell phone and make him feel wanted. Our machines need us more than ever.