subject: The Evolution of Pagers [print this page] The Evolution of Pagers The Evolution of Pagers
Pagers are simple handheld telecommunication devices that people use today. It is used in different professions to "page" or send short messages. Before cell phones became the primary means of communication, pagers served as the main alternative method of sending messages to people who could not be reached by phone. Today, despite the popularity of the cell phone, pagers still serve as an important communication tool for a lot of businesses.
The 1950s saw the first time that pagers were used for communication. Pagers were originally meant to send quick messages to health care professionals in case of an emergency situation. Handheld pagers originated from the use of paging systems that could be found in hospitals during that time. This made it possible for doctors to receive messages even if they were outside the hospital and could not be contacted using a telephone.
Over the years, pagers have evolved from its simple origins. The early versions of pagers were only capable of receiving messages from within a limited range. However, because of developments in telephony and other related technologies, pagers are now capable of receiving messages from up to a hundred miles away.
Other professions also started to use pagers when most pager models were redesigned, which made the gadget more user-friendly. After a few decades since pagers were first used, almost everybody, from lawyers to security guards, had a pager in their pocket, allowing them to quickly respond to requests and orders.
The first pagers were designed for the sole purpose of receiving messages. Today, users can send short messages as well. Two-way pagers have significantly improved communication. By using two-way pagers, users can now reply to any message they receive in order to acknowledge or ask for clarification. Second, anyone who receives a message can refer the sender to another person if necessary. A lot of professionals still keep pagers so they can receive messages when they are on call even after business hours.
Today, pagers are available in different models and functioning capabilities. Some pagers are meant to send or receive only numeric messages, so the sender can page a receiver with a phone number through which he or she can be contacted. Other pagers allow paging of alphanumeric messages so users can send actual text messages.
