When cell phones started out...

[Morty2264]

I can remember my phone number from when I was 5 or 6. 01 556 0335

I can remember mine from other towns and even the phone number of my first ever boyfriend from when I was 14. But can I remember where I left my coffee cup?!

 

[cckgz4]

While there is a true addiction that's formed to constantly using smartphones, it is very much an essential item. And who wants to go to a library in today's climate? The nations are telling people to stay home, so you need to be accessible. The things we didn't need back then were of a different time. CDs were still in major production, activities outdoors were available, laptops and other technology were ridiculously priced high, and a lot of the things that were packaged in a smartphone were all separate components.

For as little as maybe 50 dollars for a great smartphone on a plan and a 45 dollar plan, you can have unlimited data on a device that is your computer, music player, and phone for under $100 a month. This was not a thing 10 years ago, or at least not as functional. Folks had to get credit checks for an iPhone ALONE, not even for the plan, but for the phone. Technology has been made affordable and attainable, and with COVID being the forefront of today's lifestyle, we need it to be affordable and attainable to maintain a living.

As far as how the kids and the youth of today are growing up depending on tech, one could say that when we grew up, we were getting exposed to a lifestyle that could be viewed as harmful according to the society that raised us. TVs, radio, more risque media being acceptable, all of that are things that the generation before us said ruined us. That's going to be a continuous cycle. And I believe that the moderation of tech in somebody's household is to their discretion, but for me, I would want my family to know that everything is good in moderation. And with carriers and phonemakers creating options to monitor data use and phone use, it should be something that is within a parent's control to get their families to not be on their devices all the time

 

[the_boon]

While there is a true addiction that's formed to constantly using smartphones, it is very much an essential item. And who wants to go to a library in today's climate? The nations are telling people to stay home, so you need to be accessible. The things we didn't need back then were of a different time. CDs were still in major production, activities outdoors were available, laptops and other technology were ridiculously priced high, and a lot of the things that were packaged in a smartphone were all separate components.

For as little as maybe 50 dollars for a great smartphone on a plan and a 45 dollar plan, you can have unlimited data on a device that is your computer, music player, and phone for under $100 a month. This was not a thing 10 years ago, or at least not as functional. Folks had to get credit checks for an iPhone ALONE, not even for the plan, but for the phone. Technology has been made affordable and attainable, and with COVID being the forefront of today's lifestyle, we need it to be affordable and attainable to maintain a living.

As far as how the kids and the youth of today are growing up depending on tech, one could say that when we grew up, we were getting exposed to a lifestyle that could be viewed as harmful according to the society that raised us. TVs, radio, more risque media being acceptable, all of that are things that the generation before us said ruined us. That's going to be a continuous cycle. And I believe that the moderation of tech in somebody's household is to their discretion, but for me, I would want my family to know that everything is good in moderation. And with carriers and phonemakers creating options to monitor data use and phone use, it should be something that is within a parent's control to get their families to not be on their devices all the time

The truth is that both lots of good and lots of bad came from the explosion of smartphones.

Whether it's more bad than good or vice versa...is up for debate lol

 

[cardboard60]

When phones 1st came out.
I had a locksmith business.
I bought a Big Panasonic phone with a strap that went around your shoulder.
If I remember right..
I was paying 55 cents a minute to use the phone.
My bill for the phone was 500.00 every month.

They didn't have plans giving you a break.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

First phone, original Motorola flip, analog, thirty minute voice plan, fifty bucks, no texting, just phone calls and access to voice mail. Early 1994. McCaw Celluar. Have kept the same cell number since

Yes, the journey of phone numbers. When VOIP home phones became a thing, I bribed a tech in the late '80s to "give" me a number that spelled my 3 year old's name. Later ported the number to various cell phone carriers. Now it's my 33 YO son's cell number. Nice touch on business cards. Love it when a plan comes together. Told him to name his son a Jr. so he can use the number down the road, but no. Sigh, where did I fail as a father? LoL

And FYI, I agree cell phones are not a luxury.

 

[Ranjen617]

I had the GE 1000 bag phone and actually set it up myself whenever I worked at Circuit City. My employee discount made the phone $0.01.

Now the first three and true cellphones in my family were my parents and my grandfather having satellite phones in their vehicles in the early 70s. That was an oddity to see. Expensive but they had a good purpose for what we needed them for. Last satellite phone went out of service around 2010.

 

[cardboard60]

I had the GE 1000 bag phone and actually set it up myself whenever I worked at Circuit City. My employee discount made the phone $0.01.

Now the first three and true cellphones in my family were my parents and my grandfather having satellite phones in their vehicles in the early 70s. That was an oddity to see. Expensive but they had a good purpose for what we needed them for. Last satellite phone went out of service around 2010.

When they had the Bag Phone. Panasonic made a Hard case phone with a shoulder strap.
And if you remember this waw before the brick phone that was hand held.

Been trying to find some pictures on this stuff.

 

[Ranjen617]

You're right. I remember all of those myself. I need to dig in my storage unit and find all of mine. Lol. We used to carry bricks and weapons vs these little things. I guess that's why putting a 10k mah battery on a Note phone doesn't bother me with the size. We've seen worse case scenarios...

 

[sulla1965]

whenever I worked at Circuit City. My employee discount made the phone $0.01.

Ah Circuit City, I just got a lump in my throat. Also got me remembering CompUSA.

 

[Ry]

I had the GE 1000 bag phone and actually set it up myself whenever I worked at Circuit City. My employee discount made the phone $0.01.

On a two-year contract though so there was still an ETF probably.

 

[Ranjen617]

On a two-year contract though so there was still an ETF probably.

Yeah, that was the only downside. But back in that day there were only two choices in my area. One Alltel and the other was Cellular One. They both were rather costly without freebies except for after 9pm and weekends. Those were the days...lol

 

[AdabelBerdina]

Having cell phones is very convenient for relatives where they can make phone calls and video calls. But also its harm is the day holding the phone does not leave.

 

[Deleted member 2609113]

My first "cell phone" was a car phone that was built in my '89 Mazda 626. I felt like Amos Burke (Burke's Law), at least until the phone bill arrived. If I correctly recall the cost of a call was $1.00 a minute.

 

[cardboard60]

This was the 1st panasonic phone I had.
It cost me like 55 cents a minute with Verizon.

Seems like I had 2 hrs of talk time on a charger.

I did locksmith and safe work for the store that sold and repaired the phones in Houston.

After the panasonic phone.
I got a Motorola brick phone.
I loved the brick phone.

https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m71...RRucAphgRrkx5EQllpIyxm6KHY-pfrv4aAt-FEALw_wcB

 

[Evilguppy]

A phone is not a luxury when you consider all that is done from one.
In the past, depending on my life circumstances I bought whatever phone i could afford. Today, I'm in better shape so i shamelessly treated myself to a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and that, i consider to be pure luxury.
Do i absolutely need all the dazzling bells and whistles? Nah...
But it makes me happy, so there.
What's that commercial...? Because I'm worth it. Ha.
I don't switch phones every year, though, i switch when I need to, so that's my compromise to not be "too" shallow

 

[Morty2264]

A phone is not a luxury when you consider all that is done from one.
In the past, depending on my life circumstances I bought whatever phone i could afford. Today, I'm in better shape so i shamelessly treated myself to a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and that, i consider to be pure luxury.
Do i absolutely need all the dazzling bells and whistles? Nah...
But it makes me happy, so there.
What's that commercial...? Because I'm worth it. Ha.
I don't switch phones every year, though, i switch when I need to, so that's my compromise to not be "too" shallow

L'Oréal - because you're worth it.

And I agree! We *are* worth it!

 

[Chuck Finley69]

My first "cell phone" was a car phone that was built in my '89 Mazda 626. I felt like Amos Burke (Burke's Law), at least until the phone bill arrived. If I correctly recall the cost of a call was $1.00 a minute.

OMG - I’m laughing at this so hard I almost spit out my drink as I went to swallow.

In November 1990, Black Friday special, I bought first mobile device of many for myself. It was a Nokia P-30 actual brick phone on McCaw, a predecessor to AT&T Mobile and bargain price of $40/month for 100 minutes and no rollover, use em or lose em. With that package, additional minutes were $.40/minute. I was going to fake it till I make it.