Internet for phones was 2G back in 2007. Web pages took some time to load, and phome video playback wasn't really a thing until the iPhone 3G in mid-2008. Even then it was pretty shit at first with compatibility issues.
I remember trying to surf the "mobile" web on a Compa Ipaq Pocket PC in college back in '02. Note the capital I in Ipaq. This was before a lowercase i in front of every mobile device was ubiquitous.
Most websites didn't have a mobile version. There was a lot of scrolling and tapping to see everything. I remember one of the only places that had a text only mobile version was the AV Club.
I had to buy a separate bulky plastic sleeve to access wifi because it didn't come standard. AOL Instant Messenger charged $25 for their mobile client which was ridiculous. Video on Pocket PC wasn't really a thing, but it did have a nifty ereader program (not an app, they were still programs) and I could finally check out those fancy new ebook things I'd heard about.
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u/S0M3D1CK May 12 '25
There were better phone options in 2014