There were even plans for these networks to carry digital data, like sports scores or stock quotes delivered to your pager or wristwatch. The FCC planned to give away slices of the spectrum to those who would create such services. Then the FCC realized it could raise money by auctioning off the spectrum instead of giving it away to promote new technologies. Click here for History of Wireless. The amount of features and the manufacturer are all factors in the cost of a specific phone.
Prices also vary on other fees such as activation and long distance calling fees.
Cellular One, one of the major cellular providers, offers cellular service in many metropolitan areas in the 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Cellular One service is offered in nearly 13,000 cities and towns, reaching more than 110 million people. There are more than 54 million cellular service subscribers in the United States today, as compared to 91,600 in 1985. More than 10 million new users subscribed to wireless phone service in 1996. Up from 39,321 units in 1996.