# How much were the rates on the old-timey pre-cellular mobile phones?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-were-the-rates-on-the-old-timey-pre-cellular-mobile-phones/87860>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 17, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-were-the-rates-on-the-old-timey-pre-cellular-mobile-phones/87860 "2001-10-17T00:22:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-were-the-rates-on-the-old-timey-pre-cellular-mobile-phones/87860/1 "2001-10-17T00:22:17Z")

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I asked about it many, many years ago (1983), just for curiosity. I had every reason to believe that it was going to be out of my price range, but, hey, you know enquiring minds.

Well, I was not disappointed, but what I remember seems a little steep, even for back then. The installation cost was $240. OK. But here’s where I’m having a problem with my memory: I remember being quoted the monthly service fee in my area as being $175!:eek: I don’t know what kind of per-minute charges there were, because I didn’t ask that.

So any ideas on how much the old \*\*pre-\*\*cellular rates and monthly service costs really were?