A Journey Through Two Decades of Mobile Evolution
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Chapter 1: The Early Days of Mobile Phones
In the beginning, my exposure to mobile phones was through my mother's device, which I occasionally borrowed. There was much debate at home about its value—this was back in the days before my mother became a tech enthusiast like so many others. I took this phone with me to my first high school dance. Due to its size, I had to resort to using a belt clip, resembling the business types of the 90s who flaunted their mobile phones. In small-town Kansas during the early 2000s, this was quite the spectacle. Comments were made, and one upperclassman jokingly called me a "pimp"—a term of endearment back then.
This second phone was presented to me as a birthday gift, though it was more of a present for my mother. I had no real need for it, but it became what we referred to as an "emergency phone," stashed in the car alongside an outdated road map and some random hard candies for those unexpected moments.
A little-known fact about emergency phones: like any gadget, they require charging to be useful. I often neglected this, leaving my phone dead when I might have needed it the most.
Section 1.1: The College Years
The third phone I owned was a red clamshell model, a common graduation gift for many college students. It came with an unnecessary belt clip (small enough to fit in a pocket) and a camera that could barely capture a recognizable image. My usage was minimal—I would turn it on only to order food or for occasional calls, promptly switching it off afterward. This low-power device allowed me to go weeks without needing to recharge, which in hindsight, was quite impressive.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Budget Phone
The fourth phone was the most affordable one I ever owned—so much so that I was grateful it functioned at all. Purchased at a small shop in northeastern China, I bought a SIM card from a nearby stall. Back then, mobile phones in China typically operated on a pay-as-you-go basis without contracts. Once a month, I would visit a small building near my apartment, hand over 50 RMB, and walk away with another month of service. It was a straightforward process.
My feelings toward this device were mixed; it allowed me to contact my girlfriend at any time (she was a pro at texting), but it also meant I had to be accessible to my boss whenever she wanted to reach me—a harbinger of what was to come.
Section 1.2: Embracing Change
The fifth phone might well be the last new flip phone ever made. I made a point of tracking it down myself. Everyone—strangers and my provider alike—urged me to switch to a smartphone. My retort? I already spent too much time online; I didn’t need the internet constantly at my fingertips.
When this flip phone finally succumbed to wear and tear, I opted for a used device featuring a small slide-out keyboard—a compromise that allowed me to text without diving into the world of apps.
Chapter 2: The Smartphone Era
Standing in the phone shop, I realized that truly simple phones were becoming obsolete. Sure, some "basic" models existed, but even they came with touchscreens and applications. Ultimately, I settled for the cheapest smartphone my accumulated upgrades would cover.
This device felt like carrying a laptop in my pocket. Most of the time, I kept it in the outside pocket of my messenger bag, trying not to think about it. I had to remember to charge it, as it drained power quickly—even when not in use. The anxiety of seeing the battery drop to 10% became a familiar experience.
The bright side? The camera was a significant upgrade, allowing me to capture moments like a local Batmobile and a retail store cat that decided to ride on my shoulder.
In my quest for a Chinese smartphone, I soon discovered it wouldn’t accept the SIM card from my previous phone. After a visit to the Huawei store, I finally managed to extract the card. Locals seemed astonished to see a foreigner using one of their devices. A cab driver even snapped a picture of me in action.
Now, pulling out my phone in any social setting in China meant someone would ask for my WeChat ID—even complete strangers on the street. I had become a curiosity.
I also found myself added to a WeChat group for my job, receiving multiple messages daily. My employer expected prompt responses, leaving me nostalgic for the simplicity of earlier days.
The ninth phone in my collection bore the branding of a company better known for making air conditioners. It was a gift from my employer, and perhaps one day, I’ll find the time to switch it on.
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