Now a days, there are tons of mobile numbers which are active and very confusing to identify which mobile network they belong. Before I show you the list, I cannot forget my very own evolution of cellphone/mobile ownership. I got my first owned (Smart network) postpaid cellphone with the unit JRC (forgot the model number). It looks like a big brick and slightly a thick remote control. It is wireless, no sim card yet that time, 2 liner lcd (?) with green back light, and with antenna I guess. And it can make you fall asleep if I hit you with it. Just kidding. I tried to Google the exact image but here is the closest one.
It resembles my first mobile phone
After that, here comes the GSM saga. Nokia was a prominent brand for mobile phones that time. I think it was 1997 when text messaging was introduced in the Philippines. But I got my first GSM handset in 1998. It was a Nokia 5110! The original cover was dark blue. Then I bought different plain front covers. You can pair it with your clothes, very stylish yeah? After a while, printed covers emerged from everywhere. Pirated covers were everywhere at a cheaper price. The battery pack also serves as the back cover.
Nokia 5110 with a Blue cover (original color)
Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City is the capital of cellphone units and other shopping stuff. Hundreds of stalls are there to offer handsets of different models and prices, name your budget. During that time, brands like Nokia, Bosch, Alcatel, Ericsson (which later merged with Sony, making it Sony Ericsson), Samsung, and others (anything that I missed?) were all over the place. Upgrades, open line (open network locked phones, open phones from the U.S., open SIM blocked phones commonly stolen handsets so it is possible to be used again), downloads (songs, picture messages, games, wallpapers and others) were some of the services they offered. By then, multi-colored back lights can make your mobile phone looks more attractive. My Nokia 5110 has green and blue lights with acetate (a printed design on the background LCD screen). It is funny to think of those now. Oh my, the memories are still here…
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- Original Nokia 5110 original plain covers
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- Nokia 5110 stylish design covers
When you have it, it felt like you are from the upper class. (Teenage years, come on). It was PhP 10,000 then. I bought my first SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card for PhP 1,200. Yes, I am serious. Unlike now, it is only PhP 20 or up. I will not forget my SIM card number, (Globe network) 09179246355. Text messaging was still free of charge, you just had to request the mobile network to activate the text messaging feature. Then gradually it changed to 3 months of one-time payment to send and receive text messages, down to 2 months, 1 month and it turned out to be PhP 1.00 per 160 characters (maximum) of texts until the present time. I can’t believe it, from FREE feature to a thousands of expense. Business wise, “Strike while it’s hot”, they say.
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- SIM card sizes
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- Text message
The evolution of handset features evolved quickly. It was like one feature added to every phone model; then the hasty, impulsive buyers replace their phone units after every release of new model units.
Time came, the smaller the mobile phone, the more hip you are. Some phones was featured on Hollywood movies such as Mission Impossible, Matrix and others. First small phone featured if I am not mistaken was Nokia 8210 then Nokia 8250 (with original blue back light), Nokia 8850 (business class handset) and so forth.
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- Nokia 8210
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- Nokia 8250
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- Nokia 8850
Then camera phones arrived. I remember Nokia launched the model unit Nokia 7650. It is a bulgy phone which you can push upward to reveal the keypads. Shock proof phones came out as well.
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- Nokia 5210 (shock proof)
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- Nokia 7650 (first camera phone of Nokia)
The rest is history when Smart phones were discovered. It invaded the market with touch screen phones, 18 mega pixels of camera, front and back cameras, waterproof phones, sync, air gesture, wi-fi enabled phones, downloadable applications, S beam, share play, share screen, and many more. Apple iPhone has been the great rival of Samsung galaxy series phones. Some users are loyal to each phone company. An ad circulates that iPhone handsets have short battery life than Samsung. But iPhone they say is more secured against viruses than Samsung. Your choice depends on your needs. So choose the best one. Happy texting and happy calling. Enjoy! As I write now, this is my phone. Enjoying every feature of it. You? What is your first mobile phone?
Samsung Note 3 – captured on the first day
Which network does your friend’s number belongs? Globe/TM, Smart/TnT or Sun?
| GLOBE/TM | SMART/TnT | SUN |
| 817 | 813 | 922 |
| 905 | 907 | 923 |
| 906 | 908 | 925 |
| 915 | 909 | 932 |
| 916 | 910 | 933 |
| 917 | 912 | 934 |
| 926 | 918 | 942 |
| 927 | 919 | 943 |
| 935 | 920 | xxxx |
| 936 | 921 | xxxx |
| 937 | 928 | xxxx |
| 994 | 929 | xxxx |
| 996 | 930 | xxxx |
| 997 | 938 | xxxx |
| xxx | 939 | xxxx |
| xxx | 946 | xxxx |
| xxx | 947 | xxxx |
| xxx | 948 | xxxx |
| xxx | 949 | xxxx |
| xxx | 989 | xxxx |
| xxx | 998 | xxxx |
| xxx | 999 | xxxx |
Source: Customer care of each network
*I will update if needed.
Porsche's Diary 