Yep.
We would still be using land lines with rented rotary-dial corded phones. Maybe touch-tone phones, but either way...
We would also be charged for every long distance call, probably would still have portable bag phones or at least nothing in the Smart Phone category and the costs would be astronomical.
Without the breakup there would have been no reason to innovate or cut costs and thus cut the charges to the users.
Breaking up Ma Bell started one of the greatest innovation cycles that led to a great portion of what we today take for granted.
“Breaking up Ma Bell started one of the greatest innovation cycles that led to a great portion of what we today take for granted. “
Quite possibly the greatest innovation cycle in the history of man. It had been pent up behind Ma Bell’s wall for decades.
Once broken, the Internet emerged as did TCP/IP. Then VoIP and streaming and smart phones/cellular.
Unlimited bandwidth over DWDM.
Everything the defines our modern era emerged out of the Bell break-up.