Phones used to be shaped so it was comfortable to do so. It was quite a useful feature.

Even at the time of Ericsson Dialog (standard issue phone around here from 1960's to 1980's) it was not comfortable to hold the phone for a long time.

First of all, just to keep your hand raised up for an extended period of time is tiring. Even without any weight. (Modern phones are actually lighter than the Dialog handle was. )

Secondly, for many people, it is not convenient to touch the ear for a long time with any object.

Yeah, I can't abide using an actual handset for more than the shortest calls, a headset is so much better - for a landline, or even a mobile.

That works for many people, but I couldn't wear a headset all day, either. Somehow burns my ears after a while. A speakerphone is my choice. Of course, at works that requires I have my own office room, not open office...

Maybe someone will come out with an ergonomic cellphone and do some mad Columbussing in that area. "You pockets aren't flat, your face isn't flat; stop using a flat slab as a phone!" The marketing writes itself.

Actually, that was almost exactly the marketing slogan for Nokia 8110, the "banana", released in 1996.

Yes! I have many times complained about what happened to phone ergonomics. It started with cordless phones. The old corded handsets had a nice design with a deep cup for your ear, and they were pleasant to talk on. The cordless phones were bricks, and as often as not the earpiece actually stuck out a bit. Very uncomfortable, and of course with the size requirements of cell phones it's gotten even worse.

On the contrary, it's now cheap and simple to use a mic on a pair of headphones and be completely free of any burden.

You can get an old-style handset for your cellphone for $4, though. No point in complaining.

I find the same, but cheap Bluetooth headsets have got really good, which is another way to fix this.