high-band channels designated JJ and JW were used only in Canada, and were not available for use in the United States. Limitations IMTS technology severely limited the total number of subscribers. In the 1970s and the early 1980s, before the introduction of cellular phones, there were "waiting lists" of up to three years for those wishing to have mobile telephone service. These potential subscribers were waiting for other subscribers to disconnect their subscription in order to obtain a mobile telephone number and mobile phone service. These limitations resulted in low quantity sales and production of IMTS phones and the mobile units were therefore very expensive ($2,000 to $4,000). Prior to the divestiture of AT&T in 1984, Bell System IMTS subscribers usually leased the equipment at a monthly rate of up to $120. Availability of the channels was scarce hence airtime was also quite expensive at $0.70-1.20 per minute. Following the divestiture, customer-owned equipment was required by Bell companies and monthly rates then typically ran to $25 plus air time. Also, since there were so few channels, it was common for the phones to "queue up" to use a channel and IMTS manufacturers competed for the speed with which the units would seize an available channel. The limit of customer numbers on MTS and IMTS was the driver for investment in cellular networks. In remote regions, this is not the case; in remote regions, obsolescence is the driver, but the lack of a suitable and affordable alternative has resulted in regulatory obstacles: customers did not want the MTS/IMTS service to be withdrawn. Increasing affordability of satellite service, and government investment in cellular expansion allowed MTS and IMTS to be removed. See also Advanced Mobile Phone System, successor Car phone Mobile radio telephone Mobile Telephone Service, the earliest 'car telephone' service provided by the Bell System, later replaced by IMTS technology Radiotelephone Two-way radio References External links THE MOBILE TELEPHONE - overview of MTS and IMTS Telecommunications in the United States Telecommunications in Canada