The Latest: Sep 7, 2026

Before the ’90s, there was no such thing as a smartphone, and cell phones had yet to reach commercial popularity. The most common way to get in touch with someone was to walk into the room where your landline phone was placed. (In my house when I was growing up, this was the kitchen.) While they still exist, landlines are rarer than they used to be. They were corded or wireless, and often mounted to the wall.