Photos, places and people are among the top picks that certainly attract memories in an instant. However, this article would be about phones, partnering me on my my own milestones.
When phones started booming into the market, it was like a special entry pass into the society. Phones were only for a selected few then, expensive yet very basic- solely created for communicating only. Funny that more than a decade ago, texts are so costly, prepaid card are denominated in Php500 or 300 perhaps and since SMS wasn't a common medium, calls were widely accepted instead.
Fast forwarding to ten years after, the game has changed. Phone nowadays are as staple as the need for existence. It serves more than the hunger to connect but to explore on a grander scale. Apart from the now coined GSM functions of call 'n text, mobile phone companies ensure that it meet the needs of every end consumer: multimedia, socializing, business, etc. Clearly, it now became a status symbol, the kind of phone that you have tells a lot about its owner.
and I think I have a good insight, though personally, on the evolution of phones. Here are the units I had had for the past 10 years:
Year 2003:
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SENDO P200 - my very first and I was already on my fourth year in college. While everyone wanted the then famous NOKIA, I opted for the uniqueness and stylish form of Sendo. However, it was only short lived as I had to sell it after few months.
Year 2004:
Sony Ericsson T68 - late 2004 when I was able to acquire it, second hand from Greenhills. Phone was sexy and light, and colored! I first saw this as the phone of my trainer on my very first job too, it was way so expensive that I waited months before I managed to buy then gave it to my youngerst brother until it got stolen, too bad.
Nokia 6800 - from the looks alone, this is already expensive but no, I didn't buy it brand new, I got it from one of the managers in the head office, this was sold to me at Php10,000 if I recall it right. Then my younger brother borrowed it from me and brought it to his work and lost! Oh no!
Year 2005:
Nokia 1100 - I was assigned in Pampanga, a province 2-3 hours away from Manila and 6 hours away from my hometown in Angono, Rizal. Actually, I didn't had a phone, I was only borrowing the company phone, and this was the phone, Nokia 1100.
After few months, I bought on installment basis my own phone.I couldn't believe it was worth Php8,000!
My most expensive phone that time - the Sony Ericsson K300. I was earning only less than Php6,000 so for this price, I need to pay it in 6 months time. Eventually, I gave this phone to my brother when he left for Dubai and I was back to nothing, hahaha.
Year 2006:
The Nokia 3530 - this was my smuggled phone, oops! Yes, I was transferred from Pampanga to Calapan Oriental Mindoro when this was sold to me for Php1,500. Obviously a hand me down phone but good enough for me to keep in touch with my family, separated no longer just by land but by sea.
The Samsung D500 - professionally elegant! I never had the chance to know how much the brand new of this phone was but I first encountered this phone also in Calapan and my heart beat faster than ever on first sight. I got obsessed with it so on 2nd half of Year 2006, when I returned to Manila (after resigning from my company for almost 2 years), I bought this phone in Greenhills for Php7,000 with a trade-in. Finally! What happened to it? Hmmm, I think my sister asked it from me and brought it to Kuwait.
Year 2007:
My obsession on phones did not stop from D500, I wanted more than that, more updated. So I aimed for D900, way thinner than D500, and still in love with slide - up phones. It cost me Php17,000 but of course on installment. This was my phone when I had my first job in Makati - in advertising company. Unfortunately, something terrible happened in the office that I sold this phone for half its price after only 3 months, desperately in need for money, ah?
Year 2008:
Nokia 1208 - not entirely sure if this was my phone on my transitory period, that started my life on a BPO company. I think I bought the same phones for my brothers too.
Samsung E590 - small and solid looking! This was my phone in the middle of Year 2008, the time when I appreciate small things but expensive looking. From this phone, I was able to capture photos and videos of my team's Halloween theme design.
Year 2009:
When I transferred to a new account in the beginning of 2009, I also changed phone to a locally made one, and the edge - the phone is with TV!!! Yes, this became handy when I wanted to watch drama series in the office. This phone also became the witness when I jumped to my next big company in Makati where I am still at the moment.
Year 2010:
QWERTY phones were becoming a thing of fashion and so I joined the bandwagon with a small phone but this got defective later on due to battery issue.
When I finally gave up my faith to local phones, I went back to highly trusted brands, global players and so, I had my Samsung Wave on August 2010, purchased at an astonishing price of Php19,900 - again, installment. Before I bought this, I did a lot of research and this won over the other options. Wave is carrying a Bada Platform, new entry in the market when Android is ruling the game next to RIM and iOS.
Year 2011
Whoever said I will stop at Wave was dead wrong because as early as December 2010, I was already coming back and forth to Samsung store playing with this beast, a tablet! The very first tablet from Samsung. This was also a counter-attack to Apple's IPAD, an alternative to those who wants portability. 3 months after, I finally had this beautiful beast in my hands, a feeling I can never forget. This was the most expensive gadget ever - price of Php29,900! Sadly, a week after I bought this, price dropped by 8,000, the hell! Co-incidentally, this was my gadget for the longest time ever, haha... I brought this phone to most of my escapades domestically and even bringing this to India - a quiet witness and partner to me for Year 2011 until the 12th month came.
All along, I was anti Apple products because it is always expensive and limited in features! BUT what made me attracted to Iphone 4s remains a mystery. December of 2011 when I keep controlling my desire to get this but Apple won over me. So many failed attempts applying for a plan to get this for free until my 3rd try in SM Makati, on December 21, I finally had it! It was the same feeling when I got my Galaxy Tab, it was surreal! The return? I wasn't able to catch up to our team's christmas dinner party - shame on me!
Year 2012:
Sadly, the magic potion of Iphone 4s started wearing off as early as February the following year. Yes, I was getting bored, bored and bored. I could not watch videos online opposite to what I always do with my Galaxy Tab which I sold to a dear friend for part cash and ipod 2nd gen. And so, a new light shone on me with the entry of SONY's flagship phone - Xperia S. Bolder and Classy, I sold 4s to another friend for the same price I needed to be able to buy Xperia S. And I think, I made the right choice. It keeps getting lovelier and attractive day after day. As to Apple, I don't know, maybe, I might check on Iphone 5 late this year and see where my fate brings me.
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From a college freshman years ago, borrowing from a classmate his Nokia 3210 and playing snakes, and years after, I can now get the phones I want. Perhaps, it was instilled in my mind to work harder and harder to live the life I was deprived of. Unconsciously, I believe that I am just starting to live the life I have long dreamed... I am still far away from the top but I am getting there, slowly but surely.
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