Business Notes TELEPHONES

The first mobile phones that came out were fine -- as long as you had a pack mule to carry them. They were a long way from a James Bond-style phone that would be small enough to fit under a pillow or in a vest pocket. Now Motorola has made a giant step toward a truly mobile phone. The company last week introduced its Micro TAC Personal Telephone, which is about the size of a checkbook. It is 13.5 in. long and weighs just 12.3 oz. The phone comes in two models that carry price tags of $2,995 and $3,495. Each model comes with a carrying case, two rechargeable batteries, and a car adapter for recharging. High, but whoever said that talk was cheap?

There are some shortcomings, however. The Micro TAC telephone can be used for just 75 minutes before needing a recharge, while larger models permit about 2 1/2 hours of conversation.