What was the name of your first cell phone?
By divineathena
@divineathena (1746)
United States
July 5, 2011 6:32pm CST
There is beginning to everything. And it is true for cell phone use also. I was given a pay as you go Motorola phone by my parents. They thought I was too young for a normal one. Yet I was excited. There was nothing I could do with this phone though except for text messaging and talking for a few minutes. Moreover, it did not have the locking system for which once I ended up losing all the airtime. But I was happy to see my favorite Tetris game on it. I must say that the phone was very strong. I played Tetris like crazy on it, but never saw the buttons weaken.
What was your first cell phone? What services did it provide? Do you miss it? I don't miss mine because at the moment it is too old for today's technology
16 responses
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Hi divineathena,
My very first cell phone was a simple black Motorola Tracfone. Probably very similar to your first phone.
I remember buying it at Wal-Mart for about $50 with money I had received for either a birthday present, or Christmas present. I believe I was between the ages of 10 and 13 at that time.
Honestly, I don't miss it, as I agree... that type of phone is a bit old.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Oh my god, same here. I got a Walmart gift card on my birthday with which my parents gave me that Motorola Tracfone. It was very tiny and silver in color. Mine was $29. What a coincidence!!!
@Angelee_27 (3460)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Haha, wow!
Mine was one of those that doesn't flip open, it was just a plain old phone with a keypad. What about yours?
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Yes, just like yours, it was not a flip phone. Just a plain one with keypad. I was trying to find a picture of it to show to you, but cannot find it. Seems like it is treated like a history now. You did not have that locking system right?
@hanuma34 (819)
• India
6 Jul 11
My first cell phone was Nokia. I do not recollect the model number anyway. It was CDMA phone. There used to be no sim card. It was bulky a bit but did good service. Actually I bought it for my daughter for her birthday quite a few years ago who was working with a construction company. But she never bothered to use it and somehow it passed on to me. The first instrument developed display card problem for which there was no remedy. The battery was also not lasting and was very expensive. Then I bought an LG instrument slim and am continuing with the CDMA technology offered by Reliance. This time it is changed to sim card system. I do not play games much on the phone, but I use it for texting, calling, alarm and as calculator at times.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
That was how most cell phones looked like before. Now we have the rectangular iPod shape. In the 80s, it was like carrying a toaster. I think just you described, most phones back then had no flipping system. In fact, those that had this were very expensive.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
My dad's first phone was also Nokia. It is still somewhere in his room. We kept it for emergency purpose. Did your phone have that lady like figure with no flipping system?
@kaylachan (71519)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jul 11
My first cell phone was a samsung. I don't remember the model type, I just remember the brand. You talk about old. The samsung phone I had was one of the very first flip phones. Its screen was about the size of most landline portable phones. It was only able to display about three lines of text. It had no games, but it did have a phone book, messaging, and of course caller ID.
I do miss it, not because of the out-of-date technology, but it was a hand-me-down from my late father. It didn't last very long, mostly because it was a hand-me-down, but I still wish I had it so I had something of his. I mean. I miss him, and all I have is jewerly he bought me over the years. Even though the phone will no longer hold a charge (or be used for that matter) it would've been something that I didn't have to reserve for "special occassions".
As I think about it, I remember the evelution of the cell phone and marvil at all the good things that have come out of it since then. I may miss his phone, but I am greatful to have had it for a while. And, I will of course always miss him.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
This is interesting. I am glad to find someone who owned something that had a new design. I feel you do have an emotional attachment to the phone. In this situation, yes, it is hard to let go of it. Do you still have it somewhere in your room? You should definitely keep it even if it is not working
@xannex (254)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
Mine was nokia 3210, it has 3 games already in it an one thing I like the most is the ringtone composer. I don't miss it all, I imagine if I still have that, I'd be so ashamed to bring it out in public plus my current phones are so much better than my very first phone.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
I know, those cell phones would embarrass us now. Was yours pay as you go?
@emilyn1997 (171)
• United States
6 Jul 11
I did not get my first cell phone until about two years ago. My husband had one and all my kids did. I was always with one of them when I went some place, so I seen no need for me to have one. It was a Samsung an I still have it. It belonged to my son, then my daughter. It is nice for now more than what I use a cell phone for.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Cell phones are not necessaries at all. My mom still does not use one. I think the only time we need it is when we are out so we can notify our family members about our whereabouts. They also are a safety. I own a Samsung now. It is on the verge of completing its 3rd birthday. I chose to keep it over Samsung Smiley.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Wow, you are the Nokia generation, loyal user. This is actually good.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
I was introduced to cell phone a bit late, when all my friends are busy changing their's for the latest models or new brands in the market.Because I thought at first it wasn't a necessity,but when I started working and save some I thought maybe I should have one because all people I've met have one, I thought I should have too.
That's the time I bought Nokia, I don't remember if this is the right number though (7210).My wife still have the phone and seldom use it because battery charging takes time before it gets full and when she uses it the battery weakens fast.I want to buy a new battery but it 's not available anymore.I also don't remember it's features though.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Oh don't worry. I was given a phone just because I received the Walmart Giftcard. Otherwise, maybe I wouldn't have had one. So like you, I am a later starter also. Another Nokia we see here. Are you going to keep the phone? Not being able to find the battery seems troublesome. Did you ever consider refurbished battery?
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
6 Jul 11
Hi divine,
I really don't miss my ancient Alcatel, the one shaped like a bathing soap. I really forgot what model was that but I received it as a gift from my employer during Christmas time. It was cheap, it was very low-tech and it was out of my hands in no time. I traded it with a Nokia when the giver was transferred to other area of assignment to avoid offending him.
I made a lot of friends with it though.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
I liked the way you described its shape, but have not heard of that brand. I remember the model number thing. Without it, there was hardly a way to say which cell phones we used. I totally forgot mine.
@QeeGood (1213)
• Sweden
6 Jul 11
My very first cell phone was a Sony Ericsson. It was a high tech at that time for over 10 years ago. Wow how the cell phones have changed in their designs. Now a days they have many more technology details.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Wow, that is a great phone. Everyone wishes to own a Sony Ericsson and those days this phone was taken as one of the best. Even I am surprised on how cell phones have been changing rapidly. Every time a new technology is introduced their shapes change. Remember the 80s toaster phones? Only the rich people had them that time. Now it is a bit of a laughable thing
@hemantbatra0 (194)
• India
6 Jul 11
my first cell phone was nokia 3220(light effects cell). it have four coloured lights in it.s corner.. which lights when anyone call aur listen music or anything. it has camera and it supports amr files. i was very excited when i bought this. i enjoyed mobile internet so much in this cell.. the phone was quite good at that time.. i used this for one year and after that i sold this.. listen it's intresting..after selling my cell i got the news from buyer that it got damage after one month lolz.. i sold it at good time.. ;)
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Oh, I remember seeing some students in my high school carrying these cell phones that flashed red and blue lights. Was yours like that also? After seeing all the answers I must say that Nokia had a good time in the old days
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
One answerer here had Alcatel. I suppose back then Nokia and Motorola were mainly preferred by all.
@vikramsingh796 (322)
• India
6 Jul 11
My first cell phone was lg 2130 which was a white metal furnished cdma phone.and i love that cell phone.though i don.t have that with me as later i changet my phone to Gsm so i didn.t use that.but tha gud thing was that its bettry backup was superb.even nokia,s lates mobile not able to give that much batter what my lg cell gave.2nd thing that was so strong and water proof so i never cares for that about damage.it was a wonderful simple device.i love that.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Glad to hear that the battery of your LG phone was great. These days the batteries do not last long. I suppose this has a lot to do with the fact that using Internet on the phone somewhat lowers their life.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Wow, you had a Sony Ericsson? I wanted that as my second cell phone, but it was so much in demand that I could never get a hold of it. The salespeople always told me it was out of stock. The name you gave to it is funny
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
6 Jul 11
To say the truth, I have never used a cell phone so far. I know it is very useful and very necessary at times, especially when traveling to keep in touch with the people back home. There are many different brands and packages to choose from I assume.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Yes, it is useful, but at the same time it is expensive. I am not fond of seeing my phone bill every month. But I think we should stick to something more average instead of going for the fancy ones. They are just changing the way we saw phones before
@TeresaE (19)
• United States
6 Jul 11
I don't remember my first phone it was some random sprint phone. I don't miss it at all, it was bulky and awkward to use. In fact I totally forgot about it until this post, I consider my first phone to have been my Razor, which i miss dearly. It was slim and easy to use not to mention stylish.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
6 Jul 11
I remember the Razor days, but I suppose it was like 6 years ago when it came out. Girls were carrying the pink one and the men used the silver or black one.
But phones older than that had too many problems.