Oh man, you're really testing my memory here. You might want to research Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) to get a answer. AMPS can on the scene in the 70's but wasn't introduced as an AT&T product until after divestiture, I think sometime around 1984. I believe Motorola was the manufacturer of the products right from the beginning. I also believe the AMPS group became a separate subsidiary of AT&T, up to around 1984, to dance around the FCC rules. One divestiture was finalized, I believe AMPS came back directly under AT&T's wing. All this is cloudy to me since it wasn't high on my list of things to know and remember. During the late 70's and early 80's, I was on the management team trying to make Merlin a viable product offering.
On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:27:04 -0600 "Jim Wilhite" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > That's interesting Pete, but as I was told by someone at Motorola in > the > early 70s that ATT was prevented from manufacturing the equipment > and > selling it by the FCC because ATT provided the service. In those > days, the > FCC was death on monopolies. > > At this point I am not sure, but believe they formed some sort of > deal with > Motorola to manufacture the equipment. It was also my understanding > that > the first system was installed in Chicago for testing purposes, the > NYC > system and Washington DC followed. DC of course to impress > lawmakers. Is > this a form of lobbying? > > 73 Jim > W5JO > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "peter markavage" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 4:09 PM > Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Re: Your comments about AM > > > > Cell Phone History - 2 meters isn't mentioned: > > http://www.cellular4.com/phone/history.htm > > Briefly: > > "AT&T's research arm, Bell Laboratories, introduced the idea of > cellular > > communications in 1947. But Motorola and Bell Labs in the sixties > and > > early seventies were in a race to incorporate the technology into > > portable devices. > > > > Martin Cooper, known by many as the father of the cellular phone. > Hired > > by Motorola in 1954, Mr. Cooper worked on developing portable > products, > > including the first portable handheld police radios, made for the > Chicago > > police department in 1967. He then led Motorola's cellular > research. > > > > On April 3, 1973, at a public demonstration and using a heavy > 30-ounce > > phone, Martin Cooper placed the first cell phone call to his rival > at > > AT&T's Bell Labs from the streets of New York City. Mr. Cooper > commented, > > "As I walked down the street while talking on the phone, > sophisticated > > New Yorkers gaped at the sight of someone actually moving around > while > > making a phone call. Remember that in 1973, there weren't > cordless > > telephones, let alone cellular phones. I made numerous calls, > including > > one where I crossed the street while talking to a New York radio > reporter > > - probably one of the more dangerous things I have ever done in my > life." > > > > > > Lots more info on cell phone history; just google it. > > > > Pete, wa2cwa > > > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Jim Isbell, W5JAI" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Discussion of AM Radio" > >> <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 20:28 PM > >> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Re: Your comments about AM > >> > >> > >> > Well, the concept of cellular phones was taken from the 2 > meter > >> ham > >> > community. I remember having a keypad on my 2 meter hand held > and > >> an > >> > autodial capability in the repeater long before cell phones > were > >> even > >> > heard of. It used to amaze my non ham friends that I could > call > >> home > >> > while driving down the highway....not so impressive anymore. > >> > > >> > On 1/15/06, Brian Carling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > Maybe I missed something... > >> > > OK name something recent that was an innovation that > >> > > radio amateur came up with that advanced the radio art. > >> > > > >> > > On 13 Jan 2006 at 16:32, Grant Youngman wrote: > >> > > > >> > > > > NO ONE in amateur radio "advances the technological art" > >> > > > > these days. They haven't done so for many years. > >> > > > > >> > > > Maybe you're just not paying attention? > >> > > > > >> > > > Grant/NQ5T
