Expert: DebiN - 8/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: A bit of a weird question.  I'm writing a series of mystery novels set in the early 1990's in the Santa Fe, NM area.  My P.I. isn't a gadget junkie, but she'll use a gadget if it makes her more efficient at her job.  What year would she be likely to have started using a cell phone?  (I can't use myself as a guide, because I didn't get one until 2007!)

ANSWER: The earliest she really would have gotten a handheld cell phone would have been around 1990, actually. There were car phones and bag phones prior to that, but the handheld cell phone was gaining popularity right around 1990. If your PI had a phone in 1993, for example, it would likely have been a Motorola phone (they were the major providers of mobile phones then). I hope this helps and please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, that's very helpful!  But my memory is that coverage was sparse back then:  Maybe you could get calls in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, but in the large empty spaces elsewhere in the state, it was a different story.  Where could I get a map of the areas with cell phone service in, say, 1993?

Answer
You know, it's funny that you mentioned the coverage issue. When I originally responded, I was going to mention that back in 1993, there was not any coverage in rural NM. It's actually unlikely that there was even decent coverage in Albuquerque or Sante Fe, but I think you can be pretty sure that there was some coverage. You won't be able to get old coverage maps, but if you limit the area to the big cities, you should be okay. Even today, coverage is tough in much of New Mexico. I hope this helps. thanks. DebiN