Today marks the 45th anniversary of an essential piece of technology we know maybe a little too well today, as the mobile phone hits four-and-a-half decades in the hands of Canadian consumers.

On April 3, 1973, Motorola unveiled the DynaTAC. Known as the 香蕉视频直播渂rick香蕉视频直播� phone, it measured 10 inches in length and weighed two pounds.

However, B.C. consumers had had to wait 10 years for the phone to pass federal approval in September of 1983 before they could invest $3,995 into the game-changing technology.

B.C. man Vid Wadhwani still remembers buying the phone 香蕉视频直播� but said it was more for show than anything else.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause there were not as many cell towers, calls dropped all the time. There were many parts of Vancouver and areas that did not have cell coverage,香蕉视频直播� he said, noting it took years for the Marry Hill Bypass to gain reception.

But similar to today香蕉视频直播檚 long lineups for the newest iPhone release, Wadhwani had to get his hands on the DynaTAC for both pleasure and work.

The phone carried a hefty price tag; about $9,000 in today香蕉视频直播檚 dollars.

As a broker, taking calls at anytime from clients was a game changer, he said. Now a laughable memory of 香蕉视频直播�80s pop culture, the phone was 香蕉视频直播渕ost likely to impress the chicks,香蕉视频直播� Wadhwani added.

In addition to spotty connection, the DynaTAC had its quirks, including some that wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 fly in today香蕉视频直播檚 world of constant communication. For one, an overnight charge got you 45 minutes of actual use.

香蕉视频直播淏ack then you did not leave your phone on all the time,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淥nly when you thought you were going to need it.香蕉视频直播�

And then there was the cost of actually making a call. Each call was roughly 60 cents per minute, which would be about $1.30 now.

香蕉视频直播淚f you talked for 61 seconds, you were charged $1.20,香蕉视频直播� he recalled.

Now owning the iPhone 8, with features like FaceTime and read receipts on text messages becoming commonplace amongst mobile users, Wadhwani said he never would have thought at the time that brick phone would be replaced by a mini-computer in his pocket.

香蕉视频直播淸It香蕉视频直播檚] a completely different world,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淰ery quick progression from back then that couldn香蕉视频直播檛 have been imagined.香蕉视频直播�

EDITOR香蕉视频直播橲 NOTE: Vid Wadhwani is a family member of Black Press Media reporter Ashley Wadhwani

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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