When did cell phones go from a dependent to a leading technology? Cell phones have always relied on other electronic advancements before they themselves could evolve. Surface mount technology, lithium-ion batteries, and better screens and displays, were all pioneered for other uses than cell phones. Mobiles, therefore, have had to wait on other electronics before they could progress. That's now changing, since the cell phone is enough of a mass market item that it can drive the innovation vehicle, at least part of the time.

An example are TechnoConcepts' (external link) new noise cancelling techniques, intended for the cell phone microphone market, but with applications beyond the mobile phone field. This is quite different than just a few years ago. Back then, a patent or press release would stress other uses first, then mention applicability to cellular radio as almost an afterthought. Are other technologies now going to have to wait until cell phones develop? Cameras for mobiles seem to be pioneering developments in folding optics. Can you think of any others areas where cell phones are leading the innovation charge?

The following paragraph is from TechnoConcept's press release.

"Everyone is fully aware of the difficulty in hearing cell calls clearly when they are in a noisy environment such as a sporting event. These patent-pending inventions are additional technological advancements in the Company's product portfolio. This cost-effective noise suppression technology can be readily integrated into commercial, industrial and military applications, including all 1.2 billion handsets expected by industry analysts to be sold in 2007. We believe that clear audio is needed by cell phone users and therefore this technology will be in high demand," said Antonio Turgeon, chairman and CEO of TechnoConcepts.

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What was it like to be an international operator for AT&T before The Breakup? This internal Bell System newsletter gives you some idea (3 megs in .pdf) (internal link) It's from 1980 and I think Ronald Briggs submitted it. I thank him and everyone else who e-mails in these important contributions. A little tidbit from the newsletter: Back in 1980 connecting to Colombia from the States was a real problem. Only a radio link existed, not a hardwired cable connection. Very few calls, therefore, could go back and forth. Spelling was also a problem. Despite the Bell System's resources, they being the largest corporation on Earth, AT&T spelled Colombia "Columbia" at least three times. Sigh.

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What are operator services like today?

Dear Tom:

I'm just curious, do you know, or know how I can find out, where AT&T's (toll) operator services offices are located? Has International operating been consolidated into the "routine" OSPS offices? Are there any gateway offices anymore? When I worked for GTE, we handled AT&T traffic for our serving areas. Back then there were two GTE offices in Washington (Everett and Wenatchee (TOPS), three in Oregon (Beaverton, Coos Bay and Lagrande) and one in Idaho (Couer d' Alene). They all worked off independent TSPS complex base units, except Wenatchee. In California the complexes were San Fernando, Santa Monica, Lakewood, Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Ontario, each complex serving two units of four offices each. For example, Ontario 2 consisted of Ontario, Covina, Palm Springs and Indio. Now, GTE's west coast OSPS offices are Huntington Beach and Palm Springs. I'm sure Operator Services has progressed to the point there are very few offices anymore.

Thanks for your time, Ron Briggs

J.R. Snyder Jr. responds (internal link to operator services pages):

From what I know for all practical purposes operator services as we knew it is defunct. Most telcos now consider it a cost center pain in the rear and outsource it and bundle it with D.A. to companies such as Excell and InfoNXX, which is all just "agent services."

Making an international call that is not IDDD is a nightmare. I recently had a horrible experience trying to get an IDDD call through to Amsterdam and there was no "assistance" at all from either AT&T, Qwest or Verizon when it didn't go through. As far as I know there are no "gateway" or OSPS type offices left at all anymore. There must be some place that handles third and fourth world country calls but who knows or really cares where it is and who operates it anymore? As we've discussed I think before, Qwest does have an agent services office in Tempe (Phoenix) which is in the old TOPS/DA location. The old Nortel system has long been ripped out. They do 4-1-1, employee locator, provide "0" services for local telcos, wireless calls, answer the main telephone numbers for HR, state offices, etc. It's a big mishmash and has nothing to do with Operator Services as you and I ever thought about it using PCs and accessing different databases. Minimum wage jobs with high turnover.

People interested in history need to start thinking "railroad", "airlines" and "telephone company" with the same mindset as Western Union and the last telegram. The current models have absolutely nothing to do with anything in the past. It's all MBA marketing mentality currently. Eventually there will be a market for histories of the old phone companies, railroads and airlines (of the past not present), etc. but right now they're all in that transitional period of history that most historians should understand. The acquistion of A&T by SBC has nothing to do with "Ma Bell" anymore than Sprint Nextel has anything to do with GTE. The Lucent - Alcatel "merger of equals" is a perfect example of that.
later...
Best, J.R. Snyder Jr.

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