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How old are we all now that we talk about this as if it where ancient stuff? I remember my grandfather tell me about how they used to gather around the radio to
by brutuscat 6y ago
How old are we all now that we talk about this as if it where ancient stuff? I remember my grandfather tell me about how they used to gather around the radio to listen to the radio shows (or whatever these were called...).
Incredible how something like a land line phone is now a thing of the past (not so distant!). In Argentina it was not until the lates nineties that most people have access to a phone at home. Now everyone has a mobile phone.
The power of technology evolving at exponential rate I guess!
- darkwater 6y ago> In Argentina it was not until the lates nineties that most people have access to a phone at home. Now everyone has a mobile phone. The power of technology evolving at exponential rate I guess! And there are places elsewhere in the world (for example, some African countries) that skipped completely landlines because mobile phones require much less pervasive infrastructure to work properly.
- brutuscat 6y agoAt least in Argentina it was not because of the infrastructures, it was because of the telefonica monopoly. Once deregulated, private companies came and in few years most middle class families could have a land line, cable tv and Internet.
- vmception 6y agoI was thinking that too, but at the same time I'm glad those days are over. I don't miss that at all. I was thrilled that my ISP/Cable company didn't try to sell me their "TV and Phone" bundle because they understood the absurdity or could tell by my voice and interests that I wouldn't be interested or the target audience.
- toast0 6y agoOn the other hand, if your ISP was crap, you could easily pick a new one. If they were all crap, you could start your own with a t1 to connect to the internet, and another t1 (or less) to answer calls. If your phone company was crap, you were kind of stuck, but they usually weren't too bad.
- alexchamberlain 6y agoI still have to pay for a phone line (UK, Virgin Media), as it's cheaper, but there isn't even a phone jack in the house now.
- brutuscat 6y agoI’m also very happy. I was reflecting about the speedy nature of tech changes. Now no one “remembers” land lines AF of these were from there 50s or before (I guess they are?). What’s next? Currencies? Over the air tv? Gasoline? What things that we take for granted will disappear, obsolete 20 years from now?
- colanderman 6y agoI'm only 35, but even when I was young (90s) the rotary phones we had were considered dated technology. (Pushbutton phones were more typical; cordless phones were the new thing.) Northeast US. My mother still uses those rotary phones, BTW. Somehow the telco in her area still supports click-dialing. Incoming calls are great, every damn phone in the house rings simultaneously; sounds like a fire alarm.
- nitrogen 6y agoWhere I grew up the phone lines weren't very well isolated, so if lightning struck within a few mile radius the phone would ring before the thunder arrived.