Technology That Once Was A Staple, Now Outdated

While the majority of the country moved on from things like pay phones, maps, and phone books quickly, Montana—especially small towns and remote areas—held onto them a bit longer. Maybe you remember seeing a pay phone outside a general store or flipping through a thick phone book to find a local business in the '90s and early 2000s.

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Montana's wide-open spaces and rural areas also meant some of the so-called earlier technology was actually useful longer than in urban areas in the country. For example, paper maps or atlases would still be in use because GPS with cellular service was spotty or nonexistent, and landlines were more reliable before cellphone coverage improved.

As Montana has become more modern than ever, we say goodbye to these soon-to-be relics. So let's have a little nostalgia over these fading technologies.

Alarm Clocks

The alarm clock has been around since 725 AD, when a man in China invented this notorious device. Since then, there have been many versions of the standalone sleep disruptor, including the popular radio alarm clocks from the 80s and 90s. Today, cell phones have replaced the standalone alarm clocks, and you might only find one in a grandma's house or an outdated motel.

Land Lines

In saying this, I have to admit I feel old, but I remember how amazing it was to have a cordless phone in our house. Before we had a cordless phone, we had an extremely long cord draped over the phone mounted on the wall. Fast forward to 2025, and I question why people even have a landline anymore.

Answering Machines

The revolutionary technology of leaving a message debuted across the country in 1971 with the introduction of the first PhoneMate Model 400. Shortly after, voicemail was born and rendered this technology obsolete. Now, the only place you are likely to find one of these devices is buried in a thrift store.

Phone Books

I have to admit that I still keep a phone book, though I'm not exactly sure why. There was a time when it was the only way to find someone's phone number, and it felt essential to have one. Even today, phone books are still being produced, and it's possible to receive one at your doorstep.

Maps

The evolution of finding our way has changed a lot over the years. We went from relying on paper road maps, like those old atlases stuffed under the car seats, to having navigation at our fingertips on our phones. In between, we had standalone GPS units and, of course, the trusty days of MapQuest.

Credit: Cheapism