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Cellular Phones/hands free in 2000

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Expert: - 8/9/2009


Question
Hi Debi, writer/novelist here again. Yes, you've been quite the big help for me.  My story is set in 2000 as I mentioned previously. Several characters use cell phones pretty often. No particular make, model or wireless carrier; analog or digital, doesn't matter.  Anyway -- in a few instances, characters are driving while talking. In one case, the driver pulls over to talk (and be safe!)  and in another, I thought I would "give" the driver a hands-free ear-piece ... nowadays we call it BlueTooth I think (I don't use phone in my car) but .... were there hands-free, ear-piece of some kind of device in use in 2000?

Answer
Hi Lydia -

We didn't have Bluetooth in 2000. For handsfree in those days, cell phone users used corded headsets or the speakerphone on a cell phone (though most did not have a speakerphone). If you want the driver to talk on the phone handsfree, he just needs a wired headset and wouldn't necessarily need to pull over to talk (unless you want him too, of course!). Just remember that there were Bluetooth headsets then, so he wouldn't have a headset in his ear that wasn't attached to the phone. I hope this helps. Thanks. DebiN

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DebiN

Expertise

I can answer questions on cellular phones, the physical device, the network, contracts, billing, ordering, porting and what to look for when purchasing cell phones. I am located in the United States. I am an expert on BlackBerrys, Treos, HTC devices and iPhones as well as cellphones and aircards. I have over 15 years of experience in both the wireless and wireline world with the carriers. I have a lot of knowledge regarding the wireless providers - their services, prices and policies, both GSM AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel). I am very familiar with the individual devices and their specifications. I can also answer questions regarding BlackBerrys, iPhones and other PDAs, both Palm-based and Windows-based. I can troubleshoot most any problem someone is having with their cellular device or with the provider.

Experience

Over 20 years in the Telecom industry working for the carriers with individuals, small business, medium business and large corporations(Fortune 500). Also worked as a professor in Maryland for 10 years teaching telecommunications.

Organizations
I belong to several organizations

Education/Credentials
Master's in Telecommunications

Awards and Honors
Received several awards for papers that I have published over the years

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