U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for October 13

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13: FIRST CELL PHONES

Profile America — Thursday, October 13th.  Look around and they're everywhere — in cars, supermarkets, business meetings, and on the street.  They're a boon to convenience and safety, and at the same time, their users can be rude and even dangerous.  What else, but the cell phone? — an integral part of today's lifestyle.  Nearly 50 years ago, Amtrak offered a version of cellular technology, using payphones on its Metroliners.  The first modern cell phone was introduced on this date in 1983, in Chicago.  In 1990 there were just over 5 million people in the country with cell phones.  By 2000, that number was nearly 110 million.  Now, there are 286 million cell phone subscribers around the nation.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  American Speakers Calendar of Events

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1148

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau