Today's random fact

[Fritzo]

Cell phones may seem like a fairly modern invention, but AT&T actually tested mobile phones for use in Swedish police cars as early as 1946. AT&T wanted to test them in the US, but the FCC would not allow them to use air waves for telephone transmissions.

It's actually a pretty interesting story after that: AT&T had a lot of engineering talent in the 1960's, and those engineers had the foresight to know that wireless communications was the future. Since the FCC would not allow people to walk around with high powered mobile broadcasting stations to make phone calls, AT&T came up with a plan to provide wireless phone service over wide areas by employing low powered radio towers that covered a "cell" of a few miles. As the person travelled, the call would be passed from tower to tower for uninterrupted service.

Meanwhile- rival Motorola had developed their own mobile phone around the same time. On this date in 1973 (4/3/1973), Motorola engineer Martin Cooper used a prototype to make the very first cell phone call. You know who he called?

AT&T's R&D Department (PWNED!)

To be fair, AT&T was first to get FCC approval for a cell phone network, which they set up in Chicago in 1978. Motorola set one up in Washington D.C in 1981, and the FCC opened up the air for cell traffic in 1982. Today, nearly 80% of people in the US have cell phones.

 

[rivan]

I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

 

[Colt45]

Bell labs still pwns. moto would have a hard time making a mobile without transistors.

 

[Aharami]

i used to HATE cell phones back before I got one. Ended up being forced to get one senior year in college when we moved to an off-campus house and majority voted to opt out of a land line. Now, 6 yrs later, I feel so out of touch if I happen to forget my cell at home one day

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

 

[AmpedSilence]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

totally agree.

interesting stuff OP, didn't know that.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

personaly i like our club

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

True, but if they know that you have a cell phone they'll get angry if you don't answer when they call.

No phone = no excuses needed for not calling back.

 

[clamum]

I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

because some people want even want the option, most of the time when i go on vacation (inside the us) or just go out of town i dont take my phone with me, if i have a long drive i will but thats only for if i have car issues


personally i find it great when i can go to my familys summer place for a week and no one if the fucking world can get ahold of me because of not having a cell phone with me and just not knowing where i am

people managed for thousands of years without phones/cells they arent a necessity

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

True, but if they know that you have a cell phone they'll get angry if you don't answer when they call.

No phone = no excuses needed for not calling back.

BS, I just tell them I was busy.

 

[CptCrunch]

huh, neat fact. I've had a cell phone since the age of 17 when I worked at the local H.H. Gregg and bought a $500 phone for $88 and change. I too feel left out if I forgot my phone at home, and am looking at getting a phone where I can surf the internet to fuel my addiction. I dont like being contacted all the time, but I like being available all the time in case of an emergency

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: clamum
I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

Equipped with the full-size fanny pack.

 

[daveshel]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

I don't have one any more. I'll get one again when they sound as good as my land line.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: clamum
I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

Equipped with the full-size fanny pack.

And my granny used to walk around with both of those

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: clamum
I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

Equipped with the full-size fanny pack.

Most people who first adopted cellular phones in the mid 80s to early 90s had car phones. Some had bag phones (about the size of a thick laptop bag). Very few had those handhelds. They were ridiculously expensive.

I had a car phone in my 87 MR2.

 

[nonameo]

LOL, I am cellphone-less as well

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: clamum
I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

Equipped with the full-size fanny pack.

Most people who first adopted cellular phones in the mid 80s to early 90s had car phones. Some had bag phones (about the size of a thick laptop bag). Very few had those handhelds. They were ridiculously expensive.

I had a car phone in my 87 MR2.

I had one too. It was like the size of a backpack and calls cost $1.35/minute. The next year I got a plan that was only $.55/minute, then they started offering 100min/month plans for $9.99.

Now I get 700 minutes/month for $40.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Nope, I just don't think I need ANOTHER thing to carry around, and ANOTHER monthly bill. The only reason I could think of needing one is if I broke down with my kids in the car. Even then, I'm comfortable in my ability to survive without a phone.

Being available =! Have to be available

So what's so important that you need to be able to make and/or receive phone calls at all locations? I mean, if your lifestyle demands it or you can't go more than 20 minutes without texting your BFF Jill, then be my guest - have a cel phone. I just don't see the need for it.

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

Because the hassle and the cost is more than I'm willing to deal with to be available that 2 times a year I think about making a call when I'm out.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: E equals MC2

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Do you live in a stone age? Who the hell doesn't have a cell phone?

Being available =! Have to be available

It is your option to pick up or ignore the call. You can even turn off the phone as you see fit.

Why throw away the OPTION of being available at your discretion?

True, but if they know that you have a cell phone they'll get angry if you don't answer when they call.

No phone = no excuses needed for not calling back.

While no excuses would be needed, if somebody gets angry at me because I didn't call them back right away or answer their call then the next time they call and I don't feel like answering they get an extra day or two before a callback. They also get one of these handy excuses:

excuse 1: battery died
excuse 2: left it in the car
excuse 3: left it at work
excuse 4: didn't hear it ring
excuse 5: was on silent
excuse 6: was busy with my supermodel gf
excuse 7: lost it
excuse 8: stolen
excuse 9: it broke
excuse 10: I was sleeping

 

[Specop 007]

Thats cool, do you have a link to those facts OP?

As for cell phones, I freaking hate them. Its nothing but an E-Leash. Do you see how people scramble to answer their phone when it rings? Ridiculous.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

Agreed.
I have a cellphone, but only because it's actually cheaper than having a landline and making long distance calls - my parents are usually the only ones who call me (or who want me to call them), so I have a pay-as-you-go plan. I'm going to be looking at Skype though sometime in the not-too-distant future. Then I can probably go to an even lower-cost (on a yearly basis, anyway) cellphone plan. It is handy to have on hand when making a long-distance drive, as it makes it easier to call for help, assuming there's reception.

But my phone stays at home almost all the time. I don't want to be reachable anywhere at any time.
I see stories in the newspapers talking about teenagers or college students who'll take calls at any time of night. My roommate in my freshman semester would get calls from his girlfriend at 4am. He'd at least have the consideration to leave the room - AFTER I woke up and told him to go out into the hallway.:roll:

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
True, but if they know that you have a cell phone they'll get angry if you don't answer when they call.

No phone = no excuses needed for not calling back.

Solution: Let it be known that the cellphone will be OFF most of the day, and only turned on if its owner wishes to make a call. Other than that, there's a reason that cellphones have an answering service. Use it.

Originally posted by: Specop 007
Thats cool, do you have a link to those facts OP?

As for cell phones, I freaking hate them. Its nothing but an E-Leash. Do you see how people scramble to answer their phone when it rings? Ridiculous.

The new ones will tase you if you don't pick it up in time. That's for the first offense. By the third offense, the charge is lethal.

You know, if they actually did do that, I think people would still use the damn things, and pay money for the privilege.

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: rivan
I'm one of the 20% who continues to insist there's such a thing as being TOO available.

People get really pissed off at me when I don't answer my cell phone. I don't take it with me everywhere like they think I should. It is almost like they forgot what it was like living without them 15 years ago!

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: clamum
I wonder what those first cell phones looked like. Similar to the Zack Morris phone? Badass.

Equipped with the full-size fanny pack.

Most people who first adopted cellular phones in the mid 80s to early 90s had car phones. Some had bag phones (about the size of a thick laptop bag). Very few had those handhelds. They were ridiculously expensive.

I had a car phone in my 87 MR2.

I remember the bag phone my parents had when I was in my early teens. I thought it was so frigging cool. LOL.

I can't imagine not having a cell phone. If I don't want to be bothered I put it on silent and don't answer. But if I'm traveling it's worth the peace of mind, even if I don't want people to get a hold of me.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
Thats cool, do you have a link to those facts OP?

As for cell phones, I freaking hate them. Its nothing but an E-Leash. Do you see how people scramble to answer their phone when it rings? Ridiculous.

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Actually, I read a lot of this random stuff and pick one, put the facts together, and post each day. It helps bring people together.