Comments on: World’s First Cell Phone http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:15:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: nlpnt http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053715 nlpnt Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:58:00 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053715 Exactly, jmyint- I'm sure that in 1973 the concepts of people giving up their landlines due to disuse, or becoming the post-modern unisex equivalent of the Victorian boy's first pocket watch were imagined by futurists; but here they speak only of a wider, but still limited, use of mobile phones. Exactly, jmyint- I’m sure that in 1973 the concepts of people giving up their landlines due to disuse, or becoming the post-modern unisex equivalent of the Victorian boy’s first pocket watch were imagined by futurists; but here they speak only of a wider, but still limited, use of mobile phones.

]]> By: jmyint http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053698 jmyint Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:43:22 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053698 I hope Casandro was being sarcastic. I remember reading this article back then and I can say there weren't a lot of nay sayers. There was an existing mobile phone network before Motorola introduced the cell system but it was clunky, expensive, and required operators for every call. I don't think any back then could have predicted how popular these phones would become in the next 20 years though. I hope Casandro was being sarcastic. I remember reading this article back then and I can say there weren’t a lot of nay sayers. There was an existing mobile phone network before Motorola introduced the cell system but it was clunky, expensive, and required operators for every call. I don’t think any back then could have predicted how popular these phones would become in the next 20 years though.

]]> By: Casandro http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053692 Casandro Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:59:04 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053692 Wow! I guess the idea of mobile phones kinda got obsoleted by global mail and e-mail. I mean what's the use of a portable phone? Two thirds of the time you will probably disturb your communication partner, and in many cases he or she will still be in bed, because of different timezones. Wow! I guess the idea of mobile phones kinda got obsoleted by global mail and e-mail. I mean what’s the use of a portable phone? Two thirds of the time you will probably disturb your communication partner, and in many cases he or she will still be in bed, because of different timezones.

]]> By: John http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053674 John Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:09:43 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053674 "The portable’s size will undoubtedly shrink, also. Eventually, the unit could fit your shirt pocket. Dynatac’s computer-controlled network may well be a forerunner to a Dick Tracy-type wrist-phone system you may wear one day." 35 years ago, and they're actually on the button. Amazing. I wonder how many nay-sayers there were? “The portable’s size will undoubtedly shrink, also. Eventually, the unit could fit your shirt pocket. Dynatac’s computer-controlled network may well be a forerunner to a Dick Tracy-type wrist-phone system you may wear one day.”

35 years ago, and they’re actually on the button. Amazing. I wonder how many nay-sayers there were?

]]> By: Blurgle http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053668 Blurgle Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:48:20 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053668 I pay $25 Canadian a month for my cellphone service, which is less than half of what I used to pay for the landline when I had one. I pay $25 Canadian a month for my cellphone service, which is less than half of what I used to pay for the landline when I had one.

]]> By: fluffy http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053657 fluffy Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:16:33 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053657 Jerry: The only reason I pay more than $20/month in cellphone service is that I have a data plan. Otherwise I'd just use a pay-as-you-go plan (although I don't make that many calls, either). Jerry: The only reason I pay more than $20/month in cellphone service is that I have a data plan. Otherwise I’d just use a pay-as-you-go plan (although I don’t make that many calls, either).

]]> By: Michael Patrick http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053653 Michael Patrick Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:04:41 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053653 This will never take off...... people like their phones to have wires. That's how my grandfather's phone worked and by golly, that's good enough for me. This will never take off…… people like their phones to have wires. That’s how my grandfather’s phone worked and by golly, that’s good enough for me.

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053652 Charlie Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:43:52 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053652 <p>Jerry:</p> Actually, $30 in 1973 is the equivalent of $140 in 2007 dollars, so I'd say cell phones are actually a lot cheaper then they predicted. Jerry:

Actually, $30 in 1973 is the equivalent of $140 in 2007 dollars, so I’d say cell phones are actually a lot cheaper then they predicted.

]]> By: Jerry http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053651 Jerry Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:37:24 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053651 "Costs to subscribers would be similar to current mobile-phone rates initially: $60 to $100 a month. Later, with high-density use, monthly rates could drop to $30 or less." Ha! “Costs to subscribers would be similar to current mobile-phone rates initially: $60 to $100 a month. Later, with high-density use, monthly rates could drop to $30 or less.”

Ha!

]]> By: Sporkinum http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/04/22/worlds-first-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-1053646 Sporkinum Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:57:52 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=4330#comment-1053646 Pretty interesting. "....45-ounce portable.......Using these new ICs, the portable’s 14-volt battery powers the one-watt uhf transmitter for 12 three-minute calls, and provides 12 hours of standby reception for incoming calls." The 1973 Motorola weighs almost 3 lbs, and only has 36 minutes of talk time and 15 hrs of standby. My current 2007 Motorola W385 weighs 3.9 ounces, 240 minutes of talk time and 18 days of standby. Pretty interesting.
“….45-ounce portable…….Using these new ICs, the portable’s 14-volt battery powers the one-watt uhf transmitter for 12 three-minute calls, and provides 12 hours of standby reception for incoming calls.”

The 1973 Motorola weighs almost 3 lbs, and only has 36 minutes of talk time and 15 hrs of standby.
My current 2007 Motorola W385 weighs 3.9 ounces, 240 minutes of talk time and 18 days of standby.

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