Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - What are your fun memories from childhood?
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Old 03-17-2024, 05:22 AM
BrianL99 BrianL99 is offline
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Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston View Post
Did anyone mention pay phones?
Calling collect
Or the original Cellular One bag phone for your car
First handheld cell phone with the telescoping GI Joe antenna
Bag phone? They came much later.

I had an RCC phone in my car, pre-cellular days ... '79-'80.

When CellOne started in Boston (office was in Waltham), I had a Cellular Phone installed in my car. It was an NEC Phone and everything other than the handset, was mounted in the trunk of my car. The "box" was about the size of 4 briefcases, stacked on top of one another. I think it was 1986-1987. The phone cost $1800, including installation. A princely sum in those days. The CellularOne operation was so small, the staff knew their customers by name.

The first "bag phone" I ever saw or used, was during the Weld-Cellucci campaign in 1990-1991. It looked like a huge pocket-book, with a shoulder strap. We had exactly TWO of them on the campaign. They were close to $3000 if I remember correctly.

Then came the Motorola StarTac and the world changed.