The First Publicized Handheld Mobile Phone Call Occurred 50 Years Ago Today (Motorola, cell phone)

[RMESMH]

There was a story about this on Fox News.

The Wikipedia page 'Mobile phone' mentions the same date:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone

Later this year I will hit 30 years of continuous service.

[1200RT]

Thanks for sharing (and the reminder that I'm getting old.). I'm pushing 30 years of use as well. I remember my parents getting me a beeper, then a cell phone.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by 1200RT

Thanks for sharing (and the reminder that I'm getting old.). I'm pushing 30 years of use as well. I remember my parents getting me a beeper, then a cell phone.

I was growing up, but I remember when modular plugs (with the plastic ends that click into place in the wall and at the phone....still used today) started to be used on home/residential phones (but I don't remember the time frame (thinking late 1960s/early 1970s).

[1200RT]

Thinking back, I remember my first cell phone call. My dad had a briefcase style cell phone issued from work. We were driving from NYC to lake george and called my mom to check in.

Fast forward, we recently bought a early 1900's home, with phone jacks on the base boards. My toddler has one in his room and asked what it is for.

[RMESMH]

My grandparents had the longest non modular cord I've ever seen in a residence. My grandfather had some company that did business installations (and did his offices) come out and install this cord in the phone location that was closest to one of the doors to the backyard. He liked to walk along the two edges of their pool closest to the house while talking on the phone.Watching him do that, knowing how long the pool was and how far away from the house it was, and where in the house the wire went into the wall, I'm guessing that the cord was about 150' long.

[RMESMH]

In the 1960s some of my grandparents friends had drivers and limousines. I remember riding in a few of them and seeing IMTS car phones in them.

In the 1970s I remember parents of some classmates having IMTS phones in their Porsches, BMWs, etc.

The 'briefcase phones' came after that, and then....30 years ago....I don't remember still seeing any briefcase phones.

[stanley-88888888]

yeah, this is arbitrary. arent car-fones/dispatch services cellular-telefones ?
what about military in the field calling air-strikes during world war ii/korea ?

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by stanley-88888888

yeah, this is arbitrary. arent car-fones/dispatch services cellular-telefones ?
what about military in the field calling air-strikes during world war ii/korea ?

Well, that is/would have been VHF vs. UHF, and point to point (generally speaking) vs. via a station.

[ccm123]

Got my first cellular phone in 1994 (29 years ago) and it was a Motorola Flip phone. Cost was $400 and the service plan was $69.95 a month for 100 minutes on AirTouch Cellular. Times have changed!

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by ccm123

Got my first cellular phone in 1994 (29 years ago) and it was a Motorola Flip phone. Cost was $400 and the service plan was $69.95 a month for 100 minutes on AirTouch Cellular. Times have changed!

I don't remember how many minutes my plan had but I remember I had $59.95 a month plan in late 1993 and the phone was a 'bar'/'candy bar' shaped phone. A Panasonic I think.