It was an ordinary day. Watching TV and heard that yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the first cell phone call. On April 3, 1973 Martin Cooper, a division manager at Motorola, placed the world's first cell phone call from a Manhattan street corner - 6th Ave. between 53rd and 54th - to his rival at AT&T. Back in 1973 there were no digital cameras, no personal computers and no Internet. Hard to believe that we survived all those years without the use of all the electronic equipment that we now have. It wasn't until ten years later, September 21, 1983, that the public was offered the FCC approved Motorola 8000X commercial portable cell phone at a cost of $3,995. The phone weighed 2.5 pounds, had a single-line, text-only LED screen and the bulky cream-colored plastic and wires device looked immense compared to today's modern phones. Mr. Cooper remains a revered figure in cell phone history. This past fall he attended a Motorola event and was applauded by the attendees. The gigantic phones from the 80s are long gone and in their place are sleek smartphones and tablets with massive brains with access to super-fast wireless connections. Today's mobile devices are used to make phone calls, browse the Internet, order pizzas, play games, keep an eye on their pet, and keep up with with their emails and text messages. And many do all these things with their phone while trying to operate their car. I can remember when I first saw someone talking on their cell phone in their car. Told my family that I wanted a chocolate cell phone for a gift sometime so I could pretend to be talking on it and when someone would notice me talking, I could bite one end of the phone off and shock them. I must admit that I have been left behind in the cell phone world. I do have a cell phone that has all my favorite numbers stored in it, but find it hard to turn on at times. I carry it in my left front pants pocket and when it rings loudly every one looks at me. When I reach in my pocket to retrieve the phone I sometimes inadvertently turn it off and miss the call. Other times I hit the wrong button and everyone else near me can hear the call on my speakerphone. Texting? I don't have that service since I don't know or care how to do that, but that doesn't stop others from texting me anyway. And even though I don't want the service, I still have to pay 50 cents every time someone sends me a text. I used to have monthly phone bills of $25 to $35 dollars before cell phones became common. Now my bill has the land-line service charge, two cell phone and one text (my wife's) charge, Internet charge, and all kinds of fees and taxes. Last bill was $135. Gosh, I pay more for my phone than I do to heat my house for a month. Technology is great, but it is expensive. I can't imagine what people who have two or more smartphones, Internet service and whatever else on their account must pay. Probably need a part-time job to pay the bill. But that's called progress!! Oh for the good old days. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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