YouTube video courtesy of gmancine

Credit to Digg on this YouTube video gem.

There are two mobile phone types in this 1989 commercial. One no longer exists: The car phone. If you watch near the end of the add, you'll see the guy talking on a phone with a telephone cord coil dropping down. This is a car phone which was usually installed in the car (like a car stereo) and powered by the car's electrical system. The giant phone the woman and child use is an example of what those of us who remember it call a brick. Why? Well, take a look at it. You could do some physical damage with those old cell phones.

Back in 1989, portable cell phones like the one seen here could cost well upward of $1000 with little or no included minutes. And, local cell minutes were between 50 and 75 cents each. I remember my first cell phone in the mid-1990s only came with 20 free minutes per month.

From time to time I'll dig through my personal collection of ancient mobile gadgets or items I find via the web for your amusement. If you have some personal favorite mobile memories you want to share, please let me know and perhaps we'll feature it in a Retro-Monday item. I'm planning to make Retro-Monday a semi-regular feature here.