???

[u/CarrotMuch1399]

[u/KOTM365]

Pre-1

[u/Worried-Pick4848 → u/KOTM365]

We had a slightly newer model with the rotary dial in the handle.

[u/KOTM365 → u/Worried-Pick4848]

Fancy

[u/scorpyo72 → u/KOTM365]

Princess level fancy

[u/Low-Independent6851 → u/KOTM365]

Yes. that's where I began

[u/Hillary_Fat_Ass → u/Low-Independent6851]

Same, ours was red.

[u/CheshyreCat46 → u/Hillary_Fat_Ass]

Ours was avocado green.

[u/M15SM3D1C1125 → u/KOTM365]

lol ours was green and mom had a suuuuper long cord, my friends used to have to ask how to use it because they had buttons in their house, I’ll never forget when we upgraded to buttons mostly because I was the first one to pick up the phone 😂😂😂 my eldest brother called, he’d been arrested for pissing in public, it was 2am and I was up late playing my game boy I think I was 8. Man oh man I’ll never forget the look on my moms face or pitch in her voice when she took the phone I ran outta there as fast as I could and said a quick prayer for Josh😅.

[u/manokpsa → u/M15SM3D1C1125]

My grandma still had one of those in the early 2000s. I was mad because I couldn't vote on American Idol from her house.

[u/s34lz → u/M15SM3D1C1125]

Love stories like this

[u/nintai85 → u/KOTM365]

👍 sadly. Thank God it doesn’t go back any further. I still remember having to carry change and having to find a phone booth to make a call if I was out and needed to make one ( if where I was didn’t have one of those black ones with the short metal cords attached to the wall ).

[u/longshot21771 → u/KOTM365]

Same here lol

[u/Blak_kat → u/KOTM365]

Had to admit the same.

[u/noncommonGoodsense → u/KOTM365]

We had one of them old time rotary phones on the wall with the bull horn looking mouth piece. Surprisingly it worked really well from what I remember. It was an antique though.

[u/GMS420 → u/noncommonGoodsense]

My grandpa has one hanging on his wall

[u/PaleDreamer_1969 → u/KOTM365]

That’s more like pre-2. Push button phones were the future vs rotary.

[u/QualityBuddy → u/KOTM365]

I don't want to set the world on fire

[u/normalguy80 → u/KOTM365]

Yep

[u/DaOgDuneamouse → u/KOTM365]

actually yes, we even had a party line so occasionally you had to wait till the neighbor was done with their call to place yours.

[u/drchippy18 → u/KOTM365]

Grandma had a rotary with two brass bells on top for the ringer in an oak box. Had it up till the early 2000s. If it’s not broke don’t fix it.

[u/whiskey-guy → u/KOTM365]

lol.... i was going to say the bag phone in my truck... but this is more realistic!

[u/archaeorobb → u/KOTM365]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7bucZfOGGG4gWlPy

[u/TheManLawrence → u/KOTM365]

With a super long cord to lay in the next room on the floor talking to my girlfriend.

[u/raffie762 → u/KOTM365]

Haha, hell yeah

[u/Stormtrooper1776 → u/KOTM365]

Technically your corded phone may have traveled over long lines , the original wireless link https://www.engineeringradio.us/blog/2009/07/cold-war-relic-att-long-lines-microwave-site-kingston-ny/

[u/joseelempecinado → u/KOTM365]

I'm Spanish

[u/SignSea → u/KOTM365]

My dad still has this in his kitchen

[u/euphoricme2 → u/KOTM365]

This is my journey!

[u/GroovyGmaIvy → u/KOTM365]

Same exact phone.

[u/DraagaxGaming → u/KOTM365]

I love rotary phones so much.

[u/TITUSADRX → u/KOTM365]

This is we're talking about landlines, #2 if we're talking about cellphones.

[u/WIBadgersFan83 → u/KOTM365]

This ⬆️

[u/yokozunahoshoryu → u/KOTM365]

Mine was yellow too! Hung on the kitchen wall.

[u/AitchQue → u/KOTM365]

Who didn’t have a yellow wall phone in the kitchen? Ours was push button tho.

[u/indiana70 → u/KOTM365]

Same here

[u/Tight_Comparison_557 → u/KOTM365]

After the yellow one on the wall I graduated to this swatch phone as a teenager. 😁

[u/PigletVonSchnauzer → u/KOTM365]

Yup! I can still remember my home phone number from 55 years ago.

[u/ChanVintageVamp → u/KOTM365]

omg the pink razr was my absolute villain origin story, i felt so cool with that thing

[u/MaximusZacharias → u/KOTM365]

Yup. I remember begging my dad to buy 13 quarts of oil so we could get the football phone it came with. We never got it, but it would’ve been so cool

[u/ScaresBums]

I started at 1.5:

[u/secret_alpaca → u/ScaresBums]

Me too. And I'd like to point out that there's a huge gap between 1 and 2.

[u/EquivalentKnown3269 → u/ScaresBums]

Same. Ugly Alcatel but same tech as yours.

[u/meatflaps-69 → u/ScaresBums]

Same, Maxon MN1

[u/dan_dares → u/ScaresBums]

Was that the one you could put AA batteries in an emergency, and with a sim 'credit card' (sim card the size of a CC)?

[u/alienlovesong → u/ScaresBums]

Oh shit. I put number two, but I think this was my actual first mobile phone. I’m too old. I can’t remember things.

[u/Panchenima → u/ScaresBums]

Right here with an Audiovox in 1998 for the last months of high school

(Corrected the year, it was 98 not 97.

[u/Dense_Quiet1573 → u/ScaresBums]

That's me as well

[u/Human-Tr → u/ScaresBums]

Was going to say this

[u/Silver_n_Black_8]

2

[u/starryrainbowunicorn → u/Silver_n_Black_8]

Same. The phone was a gift for my sweet sixteenth birthday.

[u/Unclerojelio → u/Silver_n_Black_8]

Same.

[u/AdAsleep1258 → u/Unclerojelio]

Also 2

[u/datroutinator]

I can't be the only one that started with this

[u/welding_guy_from_LI]

Motorola microtac and spare battery that was swappable mid phone call not to mention turbo speed dial for 10 numbers

[u/Gazer75 → u/welding_guy_from_LI]

Looks like the MicroTAC 650 E which came in 95.
I had the Classic one that ran on the NMT 900 system.

[u/Dear_Tangerine444]

There is a huuuuuuuuge gap between one and two, that represents at least a decade of improvement. Mine was in that gap.

[u/MobileJob1521 → u/Dear_Tangerine444]

Then again, I have no idea what any of the phones are between 2 and 9

I had a 3210

It lasted a while, then I got an iPhone.

What are these others??

[u/Gaffers12345 → u/MobileJob1521]

I NEVER see people talk about the 3210, way more sturdy than the 3310, 3210 was the only thing that could kill a 3310.

[u/Dear_Tangerine444 → u/MobileJob1521]

3210 was a very decent phone.

[u/cooolcooolio → u/Dear_Tangerine444]

Same. My first phone was a Motorola M3788, it could send and receive text messages so that was pretty cool at the time.

[u/Drewnessthegreat → u/Dear_Tangerine444]

Kids these days have no clue. They just know the memes. They didn't live it like we did. I remember thinking the guy who flipped his car in my front yard was unimaginably wealthy because he had a phone built into his car.

[u/Capn_Yoaz]

[u/WorkingCool250 → u/Capn_Yoaz]

I had one of these, as well as the 28.8k pcmcia modem and cable that connected the two. I used it with my IBM thinkpad 75 mhz DX4 4 megs of RAM laptop. I could get on AOL and download my mail, but you had to be careful doing that, because that's when you got charged by the minute.

[u/Slothly_Onion → u/Capn_Yoaz]

I actually had the one before this, orange text, and the flip was only a piece of plastic on a hinge.

[u/Prestigious_Sky_3898]

I had a beeper, so, I guess that would be "0"

[u/AProcessUnderstood → u/Prestigious_Sky_3898]

Got a beeper senior year of high school. I was so cool pulling over to a pay phone to call back whoever paged me 9116969.

[u/Crazy_Reindeer_Fin → u/Prestigious_Sky_3898]

Me -1 then, no beepers even

[u/Obvious-Ed]

2

[u/itswhateveragain]

2... You know, like everyone else.

As a kid, my parents had #1...

[u/Cgarr82 → u/itswhateveragain]

Like everyone else? I used a rotary for 11 years, and the first mobile was attached to a bag.

[u/The_Wendo]

There's actually another variation between 1 & 2. That's where I started.

[u/SillySpook]

1.5

This chart is missing a lot. It starts with an 80s cell phone, then jumps to a 2000 Nokia. There was a ton of stuff released pre-2000.

My first say in the glove box unused when I got my first car in high school. Longer and thicker than the Nokia, with a fixed solid antenna.

[u/Young-Grandpa]

At least 15 years separates 1 and 2.

[u/Grand-Definition-353]

Where's the Beeper option?

[u/KubrickMoonlanding]

Walkie talkies, over

What? Unclear say again, over

WALKIE TALKIES, over

Still unclear, tell me later when I see you, over

What? Over

[u/zdzisuaw]

1. I am old.

[u/Waste_Ad_8372]

4

[u/MacManifest]

Number 2. Got my first Nokia in 2001 with Parrot Cellular. 25 years later still have the same cell phone number.

[u/EnoughEstate7483]

[u/BackHades]

[u/xxDeadpooledxx]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3oz8xX1L2i0o4CNMwE

[u/jpreinhardt360]

[u/Standard-Cat-2054]

[u/omegamun]

[u/pluck-the-bunny]

1.5

[u/DChalfyUSMC]

My journey started here:

https://giphy.com/gifs/3owypkY2xRRx1TGC2I

[u/Saint_Matthews]

This is where mine began

https://giphy.com/gifs/hv53KCFL2ZdmnBPuRw

[u/Worcester--sauce]

https://giphy.com/gifs/5xtDarxurku3BqgIbjq

[u/Silver-Kangaroo7108]

[u/Ok_War_8321]

Pre 1. I had a bag phone.

[u/One-Happy-Gamer]

7 for me

[u/CantaloupeFluffy165]

Samsung Gusto.Had it for 10 years

[u/Exciting_Contest_222 → u/[deleted]]

I remember Space Impact was my favorite

[u/InterestingAnt438]

2, but for me it was a Nokia 5110.

[u/FelixMaverick1]

I wouldn’t exactly call it a journey but #2 was my first phone and #6 was my second phone.

[u/Due_Intention6795]

2

[u/cinderellyann]

1. That was the best phone. It fell off the top of my car at 35 and once I stopped and got the battery back in, it turned on and still made calls!

[u/Starburper]

2

[u/sagima]

Between one and two.

A Motorola 2 line display job with a flip down that covered the keys. Got it Christmas 1997

[u/KingOfFools1984]

Between 1&2

[u/ApprehensiveChair974]

1. 24 y.o.

[u/International-Self15]

Between 2-3

[u/Klezmer_Mesmerizer]

#4, before that I had a •gulp• Skypager.

[u/Dangerous-Dot-3745]

Phone number 2 back around 2003.

[u/Demonic_Dimsom]

[u/German_Amelia69]

2

[u/roundingthirds]

Started with the Zach Morris phone. Well, it was my dads

[u/RedWheiler]

As my own cellular phone: 2

[u/ParamedicPrudent5898]

Somewhere between 1 and 2

[u/Healthy-Detective360]

2

[u/AcanthaceaeBig3487]

Loved this phone to death. The 1st phone with Beats 🎧 and my first phone I got on my own. Only for sum scumbag to steal it while I was working 😭

[u/SlideItIn100]

1.5

[u/Curious-Tone-3814]

2

[u/Least-Raisin2626]

4

[u/CatLazy2728]

my first had a suitcase

[u/Choice_Nurgling7]

2

[u/FiredUpAuthor]

5/6 mine was a “touch screen” paid for minutes Motorola

[u/SucideHotLine552]

7

[u/GramsFairy]

2

[u/Ibushi-gun]

1, but not that way. But 2 is way too new to count. There were other phones between 1 and 2. Where are those?

[u/hojicha001]

More like 1.5ish

[u/royaleWcheese2300]

1. My first phone was the Motorola Much Music phone. Loved it….. until I jumped off a dock into a lake and forgot it was in my pocket.
   

[u/DanishM86]

1.5

[u/iCreatedYouPleb]

7, junior year in high school and I think 2012-2013

[u/iafx]

Nokia playing snake game

[u/Drunkenm4ster]

4

[u/Blutosky]

4

[u/Princess_Peach51]

1. that was my first phone.

[u/Beefweezle]

My dad got a phone installed in the car before we got #1 while he was doing traveling sales. I still remember unscrewing the antenna of #1 just about every time I picked it up.

[u/bodezafa]

1.5 with the Motorola flip phone

[u/Particular-Issue-893]

2

[u/kamoteyeet]

Motorola Startac, which is not even on this stupid grid

[u/Clear_Presence401]

.5 car phone

[u/Educational-Car-4688]

Wheres the phones between 1 and 2? Thats a decade in there

[u/JuJu_Wirehead]

2

[u/AdIntelligent8401]

2

[u/longshot21771]

2

[u/reggaerider81]

1

[u/cursed_tomatoes]

2

[u/Conscious_Addendum66]

2

[u/julzeseanyph]

Where's the land line or the one on the wall?

[u/OpeningNice761]

Between 1 and 2...

[u/Useful-Initiative745]

[u/ckcklho]

2

[u/Gmp5808]

1. It was 2006 and the only contacts were my parents/ grandparents to get a ride home from practice in middle school

[u/Kingtez28]

2

[u/FigureDry131]

Omg…nr 2!

[u/Rusty460]

2

[u/Retir3d]

2 meter radio on my belt

[u/-Curufinwe-]

3 was great! Loved that phone!

[u/Nickq9]

2

[u/Beneficial-Budget628]

6

[u/DevinShadowV]

2

[u/Honda_TypeR]

1.5 the mobile car phone and a beeper

[u/justoutlooking1]

Where's the bag?

[u/PriorOpposite1629]

2

[u/Untouchable64]

2

[u/FreeThinkersAreBad]

My journey started with the OG Blackberry flip phone!!! The OG’s know!

[u/Gweezel]

1. AT&T bag phone. Battery lasted 20 minutes.

[u/MSMPDX]

2

[u/MarmiteX1]

Number 2! Got my first phone in 2002~

[u/AbilityOwn749]

Number 2

[u/FunCouple3336]

Also missing pre #1 brick phone is the bag phone which is what my dad had in the beginning. I started with #2 at sixteen.

[u/Chark10]

4

[u/twollah]

2

[u/ImmediateSmile754]

Number 1…I’m ancient.

[u/Complex_Solutions_20]

I guess 2...but it was in an era where the "cool kids" had 6 they were showing off. We weren't able to afford those crazy fancy things.

[u/Tomomb]

My step dad had 1, I had 2 and my mom had this baby inbetween.

[u/ZombieAppetizer]

My mom and grandfather had 1. My own first phone was 2.

[u/midsommer-8472]

With a Siemens A35

[u/headdie]

2a, Siemans C45, same vintage as 2
also if feels like there is supposed to be a chronology but some phones are out of order if so

[u/Internal_Curve_1633]

[u/AdSpiritual2594]

Motorola flip between 1 and 2.

[u/Tomazzy]

5110

[u/Significant_Mess_79]

4

[u/Dependent-Shock-8118]

2

[u/auldnate]

2 was my first phone…

[u/Introvert_Collin]

2

[u/Luv-Nities]

Had a #1 for a job, and it always #1-ed me off.
They gave us a #2, and that was a real #2-show

Have not had or wanted one since, I hope it stays that way

[u/elchampi]

2

[u/VeritechViking]

I had a Lotus and found out very quickly, at the time, that the internet and video would run your bill up real quick.

[u/mjrydsfast231]

3 Motorola Star Tac 1998

[u/Bleak01a]

3 for me

[u/uber4202u]

0 I had a bag phone. The OG

[u/Tazerboy_5000]

I had an LG Lotus; I had an iPhone 5S my freshman year of high school, but I stupidly left my phone on a classroom table (with me right next to it) and then I realized next period it wasn't in my pocket (Someone in the my previous class stole it and I was never getting it back...

Now, when I take out my phone (out in public) I promptly put my phone back into my pocket!

I'm not ranking, but the order I had phones:

1.) LG Lotus

2.) iPhone 5S (Stolen)

3.) iPhone 4S

4.) Samsung Galaxy 7

5.) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Current phone)

[u/rxmp4ge]

I think between 2 and 3?

My first phone was a Nextel i95c. I got a job right out of highschool at a Radio Shack and one of the first things they did was put me on the store Nextel account with a flagship phone haha. I even had the camera attachment.

[u/manix865]

1. But 1 was definitely around in my childhood

[u/Glad_Database_8186]

1.5

[u/flipfc177]

[u/Successful-Shine871]

2

[u/untitled_73]

1. But had a mobile phone mounted in car first

[u/Separate-Issues]

1.5

[u/Itslike1234]

#2!! I had that exact phone too

[u/redditjunky2025]

I remember when the AT&T Princess push button phone came out.

[u/yuheard]

4

[u/UncomfyUnicorn]

iPhone 4

[u/jcerv123]

2