One for your diaries this, as it’s on January 1st (I’m determined to get this in early, as I missed text messaging’s birthday)
And yes, I had to check this was indeed a true story, since my memory fails me, and thanks to bbc.co.uk, we know it is!
January 1st, 2008 will mark (as well as the New Year, and the 2 year anniversary of me binning my psychotic ex) the 22nd birthday of the very first mobile phone call made in the UK. Made on the Vodafone network, the call was placed from a handset in St Katherine’s dock, through to Vodafone’s head office in Newbury, then above a curry shop (which is kinda funny, in itself)
But even better than that is who MADE the call? Was it some anonymous spod from Vodafone? No. Was it a super-switched on technician? No.
It was Ernie ruddy Wise!
Haaaaaaaaaaa-hahahahahahahaha, that’s just genius! And hey, particularly seasonal, given that one of the highlights of Christmas is still Morecambe and Wise on the telly.
Let’s be honest, though, that is possibly the coolest bit of product association I’ve ever seen. Tie up an emerging new technology, ripe with potential, and all new and exciting, with one of the greatest comedians known to mankind, and easily the single best straight-man who’s ever worked in the business of show, but who’s more associated with having short, fat, hairy legs.
So, happy birthday to the art of making mobile phone calls, and once again, let’s pay tribute to one of the great men of comedy.