3 ms·

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. Are you implying the US didn't have cell phones in the late 90's? Even I had a cell phone, and still have my origin

by retro64 10y ago

I'm not sure what to make of this comment. Are you implying the US didn't have cell phones in the late 90's? Even I had a cell phone, and still have my original (looks the one midway down on this page (http://www.mobilephonehistory.co.uk/motorola/motorola_list.php http://www.mobilephonehistory.co.uk/motorola/motorola_list.p...) - a Motorola flip (MicroTAC)). Notice the timelines as well. These were analog networks at first, but mobile was very popular here in the 90's.

digi_owl 10y ago
No, he is talking about GSM being a pan-european standard made companies and carriers compete on features and services rather than lock-in. Especially as GSM enforced the use of SIM cards that made it easy to move phones between carrier, or buy a phone outside of carrier offerings. Observe in contrast how Verizon is massive in USA thanks to being one of two (Sprint being the other) CDMA carrier. I keep seeing Americans lament that they want to pick up some new phone, but can't because they are grandfathered into some Verizon contract or other.