I think cell phone users would be wise to turn them off until they are needed and be at the luck of the draw as to whether a signal can be obtained when needed ... and be prepared for the eventuality that it can't.
Concerning keeping the phone turned off, I understand the point. For me, however, almost no one knows my cell number; I still have land-lines for home and my office. The only occasion when I'd receive a call on the trail would be in a family emergency.
I've been in the company of hikers who lost power by keeping the phone on and at other times we've each had different luck, at the same location, in getting either a signal or a connection.
My phone is a plain-vanilla Nokia and it holds a charge for a couple of days, sometimes three days, even when it's constantly on. The point about varying luck picking up a signal is well-taken; that's why I think noting the carrier is important.
My conclusion is that including cell phone information is 1) of no interest to me personally, 2) can mislead others as to when and where to get a signal and a connection, 3) can mislead others into a false sense of security and perhaps inadequate proper preparation, 4) distracts from and clutters what should, IMHO, focus on the essentials of what draws us to the trails.
The information could be misleading, yes, if it isn't complete. Regarding the false sense of security: the same argument could be made about GPS units. I think the person who would be lulled into a false sense of security by carrying a cellphone is a person who would feel a false sense of security by all manner of safety gear.
I consider a cellphone a useful piece of safety equipment when hiking alone. It's small, light and unnoticeable. Please understand: I do
not advocate cellphone use during hikes and in the wilderness -- emphatically so. (I also don't advocate carrying a cell when hiking in a group; there's plenty of help and assistance already at hand.) I use my cell on the trail
strictly on two kinds of occasions: 1) emergencies (mine or someone else's that I've encountered), and 2) if someone expects me to return to my car or home by a certain time, to let them know if I know I'm going to be late by, say, more than an hour, especially in winter (I think it's rude to cause people unnecessary worry).
I appreciate the argument of turning the phone on only when an emergency occurs and being "at the luck of the draw as to whether a signal can be obtained when needed ... and [being] prepared for the eventuality that it can't." However, if I'm in an emergency situation where there's no signal and I know from a VFTT or ROT Trail Conditions report that there is a signal from my carrier a mile up the ridge or over on that nearby peak or down at the closest trailhead, that could be the difference between an unfortunate circumstance and real disaster (again, especially in winter).
Any smart hiker, especially a solo hiker, is prepared to deal with difficult situations where no help is available. But in an emergency where there is coverage, or coverage nearby, a cellphone can bring help that much more quickly.
