With all the complicated and technologically exciting tools that we pretty much take for granted now, in our daily lives, why would anyone still want something as simple and basic as a pager?

The answer is exactly because it IS simple and basic. The beauty of the pager is that you can carry a very small item on your person that allows you to be reached at any time or place without having to stop what you are doing or needing to become engaged in telephonic conversation. You can get the message that you are needed, or that you need to make a return call, in an unobtrusive way. Then you can either respond immediately or postpone your response as the situation warrants.

With a pager, you can screen your messages and then pick and choose when to return a call, or even simply receive information that is time-dated without having to respond. As opposed to a cell phone, which demands your attention and interaction then and there, either by reading text or talking to the caller or listening to those often long-winded voice mails.

You are therefore able to stay in touch with those who need you, but not dangerously (in traffic), nor inconveniently (during a social engagement), nor rudely (in the middle of a movie theater or professional meeting) interrupted as you go about your day. A pager allows you to be in more than one place at a time