On 18/05/2010 9:11 PM, Darren New wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
>> I think that it was a bit earlier than that in the UK but we are much
>> more closely packed.
>
> I'm not sure of the history, but a lot of times, things will go a lot
> longer where they were invented.
>
> For example, in the USA, we had 96%+ landline penetration in residences
> in 1980 or so. South Korea had essentially none. Forward to 2005, and we
> have like 20% of the population having cell phones and 80%+ of south
> koreans having cell phones.
>

Crikey!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_mobile_phones_in_use

In the UK everyone has almost one and a quarter mobile phones each (2008).
South Korea - 97.24% 	2009
United States - 91.0% 	Dec. 2009

> I.e., I wouldn't be surprised that by the time the UK had widespread
> residential phone service, the technology was cheap enough that party
> lines didn't really make sense.
>

You are probably right, I missed the transition tho’.
Although I tend to think that it was not cost but capacity in GB (as it 
was known then). Remember* there was no profit requirement with the GPO 
but a mater of “national pride”.

* You won’t remember of course as there was no reason for you to take 
notice. :-)


-- 

Best Regards,
	Stephen

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