Most popular for personal use, a numeric pager can display "numbers only" - telephone numbers or numeric codes. To send a numeric page, a caller just dials your pager's phone number and enters his/her own number. The number of the sender shows on your pager, and you know that you need to call him. The storage capacity for received messages in most numeric pagers is 24 digits. Many of them offer silent vibration alerts to indicate the arrival of new messages.

Numeric pagers are advantageous due to several factors. They are flexible and work in silent mode without disturbing others in quiet environments. They can work in noisy surroundings and enable users to read messages privately.

In order to send a numeric message to a pager, dial the pager number you want to contact on a touch-tone phone. Once you hear the tone, enter the number you want displayed on the telephone keypad. Then press the pound sign (#) to signal the end of the message. The paging service subsequently dispatches a signal to the local paging terminal, which transmits it via radio waves over the entire coverage area. The pager then alerts the recipient pager owner with beeps or vibrations that a message has arrived.

Numeric pagers contain a small screen that displays up to 24 digits. Nowadays, you can find models of numeric pagers in various contemporary and fun colors. Some of the models are now as thin as a credit card.

As is the case with cellular phones, pagers have become more and more of a commodity these days, with service becoming the key. Many dealers now waive the pager activation charge, or sell the units at a loss to lure new customers.

Monthly service fees can range from $10 to $40 per month, with payment on a quarterly or annual basis. A pager costs $30 to $150 depending on the type of pager and accompanying features. You can also lease a pager for a small fee.