Gather to say a few a quite words to a fallen friend as from today American carriers Verizon, AT&T and Alltel have the option of decommissioning their Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS). Marking the end of an era AT&T and Verizon will take advantage of this opportunity this week with Alltel phasing out through September 2008 to free up bandwidth for their digital systems.

Modern wireless infrastructure owes a debt to the now redundant analog Bell Labs technology but few looking back on the technology will shed tears at the uptake of more versatile technology allowing the rapid convergence we now enjoy on our iPhones, Blackberries and other smartphones.

If you are concerned that you may be affected by the transition calm yourself. If your phone is able to send a text message or browse the internet it is not an analog phone. Nevertheless, take a moment to reflect on your untroubled youth and the weighty cellular that seemed a snapshot of an unknowable future, then take another look at your iPhone and count the moments.

RIP Analog. We knew you well.