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Thread ID: 120626 2011-09-18 01:17:00 Was this really how it was? (Cell phones) tuiruru (12277) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1231970 2011-09-18 01:17:00 Here (www.youtube.com)

Maybe Surfer Joe can shed some light?
tuiruru (12277)
1231971 2011-09-18 02:02:00 My first cellphone, in 1987, was half the size of that phone in the clip. We now call them bricks because of their size. Cost me almost $1000. I used to carry it around in a bag. My cat used to sleep on it. Bobh (5192)
1231972 2011-09-18 02:08:00 Yes it was. I recall using one in Wellington, in 1987, of a similar battery size. It may have been using VHF frequencies, as using it on the Cook Strait ferry, you needed to be within 10km of Sinclair Head to get reception. Any further out, there was nothing.

A few people on the ferry wanted to make phone calls, and were paying me $2 a call for the experience ... :D

Down memory lane, Here's (www.youtube.com) a collage of cell phones from about 1990, starting with my first Nokia brick :thumbs:
WalOne (4202)
1231973 2011-09-18 03:07:00 I used to work for a company that leased cellphones to businesses, those were what was termed transportables, and they were better than the hand-held (I has an Oki brick) as they put out more power (5 watts if I recall rightly). The monthly lease payments were incredibly high, PLUS the high per minute rates and Teelcom access fees. Lugging those things around though seemed to be somewhat of a status symbol lol. Jester (13)
1231974 2011-09-18 05:18:00 These fones were common rite up until the Telecom AMPS network was shut down. They were great for construction sites and areas that had bad reception. paulw (1826)
1231975 2011-09-18 05:24:00 My mate had access to one like that when working at a construction site in Auckland around mid 80's. My first phone handset was almost the same size around 1986, with Telecom's Independence plan. kahawai chaser (3545)
1231976 2011-09-18 05:49:00 And what will the future bring us ....

www.trademe.co.nz

Might have to make one of those myself so I can upgrade ... :D
SP8's (9836)
1231977 2011-09-18 06:40:00 I remember using one of those around 1995.
:)
Trev (427)
1231978 2011-09-18 08:13:00 One of our daughters with "brick" cellphone 1990 April: BBCmicro (15761)
1231979 2011-09-18 21:46:00 One of our daughters with "brick" cellphone 1990 April:

Looks like a transistor radio with a coat hanger stuffed into it (the brick - not your daughter).
tuiruru (12277)
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