Stardate 20010731.0758 (On Screen): This article describes the new wonderful disposable phones you'll be able to buy soon. Use them for an hour and then toss them. Well, no, not really. Yes, this may happen, but this is not the future of cell phones. The reason is that these phones will be for AMPS, the old-style analog cell system. While the most broadly deployed protocol there is, it's also enormously inefficient in use of spectrum, and all the 800 MHz service providers in the US are gradually switching their 800 MHz spectrum over to one of the digital standards (usually IS-136 or IS-95) because they can make more money this way. (Each MHz of licensed spectrum can carry five to fifteen as many calls with the digital standards.) It's unlikely that anyone will develop disposable
digital phones because they're a lot more expensive to make; who would buy a disposable phone that cost $100?
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