The Evolving History of the Cell Phone
Editor's Note: This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Cell
Phone Expert where you can compare cell phone plans. When he’s not
writing he’s writing and composing music for short films and other
visual arts.
Cell phones have evolved so far from the 88 pound blocks they once were. Initially only the wealthy could afford cell phones that they had to lug around, but now a pocket-sized cell phone, essentially a small computer, costs less than $100. The evolution of the cell phone leaves consumers wondering where the phone will go next.
The Beginning of the Mobile World (1956-1998)
The SRA Ericsson Mobile Telephone System A was developed in 1956. It was extremely heavy and required so much power that it could only be used inside a car. Very few people owned one of these telephone systems, or even knew about it. It was also significant that this was the first phone system that did not require an operator.
In 1983 Motorola released the DynaTAC 8000X, which was the first handheld cell phone. At the time, the phone cost $4,000 and people were amazed at how it could be used everywhere. In comparison to other phones, this version was small and light. Unfortunately, users could only talk for one hour. Just one year later Nokia released the MobiraTalkman. It was bigger and allowed for significantly more talk time.
In 1989, the Motorola answered the call for small handheld phones with the MicroTAC, the world’s first flip phone. Five years later Motorola released the 2900 Bag Phone. People would be able to carry around a bag that held a battery and transceiver while talking on the handheld device. The bag was so bulky that the phones were more popular to use in cars than walking around. The phone became popular because it could be used for longer talk times. Motorola released the StarTAC in 1996. It was a small phone that folded in half. This style of phone remained popular until the emergence of smartphones.
While IBM released the first smartphone as the Simon, Nokia’s 9000i Communicator truly helped to bring in the age of the smartphone in 1997. All 8 MB of RAM helped to create a small computer that could be stored in the user’s pocket. The clamshell phone also offered an LCD screen with a full keyboard. It even had limited web access. Most importantly, it paved the way for other smartphones.
Nokia’s 8810 phone was released in 1998 with the mission to appeal to those who were turned off by unsightly external antennas. Nokia was the first to use a plate antenna inside the phone. This made it small and compact in comparison to others. Just a year later, Nokia released the 7110. It was a phone that could use WAP to access a text-only version of the internet.
The Evolution of the Mobile World (1999-Current)
BlackBerry originated in 1999 with a pager but soon developed cell phones. The RIM BlackBerry 5810 debuted in 2002 with a full-sized keyboard that was designed with texting in mind. Sanyo’s SCP-5300, which debuted in 2002, was the first cell phone designed with a camera. People thought it was absurd to have a cell phone with a built-in camera but it caught on quickly. The phone also featured a color screen. That same year, T-Mobile released its Sidekick. This smartphone featured a large screen that could change directions. Its large QWERTY keyboard made the phone ideal for sending and receiving text messages.
One of Motorola’s most popular phones, the 2004 Razr V3 was a slim clamshell phone which featured a large screen. It had a relatively flat keyboard, making it smaller than other phones of its time. It also included a camera and the capabilities of other phones. Motorola hoped that the phone would break ground in a world where most cell phones looked alike.
Apple released its smartphone, the iPhone, in 2007. It was more than just a cell phone, however; it was an entire computer that the user could slide into their pocket. It could do everything a computer could do, including provide high-speed access to the internet. Another revolutionary feature was the fact that it could encourage users to purchase applications that would allow them to use features such as Facebook and Twitter. Not only did the iPhone come out but the age of the apps started getting increase popularity alongside with the Android operating system as well.
Many Android phones began coming out and started becoming popular enough especially in 2009 and up. The competition between Android phones and Apple iOS operated phones started getting more heated between their loyal users, but the common trait between iPhone and Android users were the extensive use of apps. Now a day there’s an app for absolutely everything. In our current times now we solely depend on apps to make our busy day to day lives easier or just simply there to entertain us during long waits, but in our current days now in 2012, cell phones have also given rise other mobile devices known as electronic tablets, but that’s a whole other story on its own.
Cell phones have evolved so far from the 88 pound blocks they once were. Initially only the wealthy could afford cell phones that they had to lug around, but now a pocket-sized cell phone, essentially a small computer, costs less than $100. The evolution of the cell phone leaves consumers wondering where the phone will go next.
The Beginning of the Mobile World (1956-1998)
The SRA Ericsson Mobile Telephone System A was developed in 1956. It was extremely heavy and required so much power that it could only be used inside a car. Very few people owned one of these telephone systems, or even knew about it. It was also significant that this was the first phone system that did not require an operator.
In 1983 Motorola released the DynaTAC 8000X, which was the first handheld cell phone. At the time, the phone cost $4,000 and people were amazed at how it could be used everywhere. In comparison to other phones, this version was small and light. Unfortunately, users could only talk for one hour. Just one year later Nokia released the MobiraTalkman. It was bigger and allowed for significantly more talk time.
In 1989, the Motorola answered the call for small handheld phones with the MicroTAC, the world’s first flip phone. Five years later Motorola released the 2900 Bag Phone. People would be able to carry around a bag that held a battery and transceiver while talking on the handheld device. The bag was so bulky that the phones were more popular to use in cars than walking around. The phone became popular because it could be used for longer talk times. Motorola released the StarTAC in 1996. It was a small phone that folded in half. This style of phone remained popular until the emergence of smartphones.
While IBM released the first smartphone as the Simon, Nokia’s 9000i Communicator truly helped to bring in the age of the smartphone in 1997. All 8 MB of RAM helped to create a small computer that could be stored in the user’s pocket. The clamshell phone also offered an LCD screen with a full keyboard. It even had limited web access. Most importantly, it paved the way for other smartphones.
Nokia’s 8810 phone was released in 1998 with the mission to appeal to those who were turned off by unsightly external antennas. Nokia was the first to use a plate antenna inside the phone. This made it small and compact in comparison to others. Just a year later, Nokia released the 7110. It was a phone that could use WAP to access a text-only version of the internet.
The Evolution of the Mobile World (1999-Current)
BlackBerry originated in 1999 with a pager but soon developed cell phones. The RIM BlackBerry 5810 debuted in 2002 with a full-sized keyboard that was designed with texting in mind. Sanyo’s SCP-5300, which debuted in 2002, was the first cell phone designed with a camera. People thought it was absurd to have a cell phone with a built-in camera but it caught on quickly. The phone also featured a color screen. That same year, T-Mobile released its Sidekick. This smartphone featured a large screen that could change directions. Its large QWERTY keyboard made the phone ideal for sending and receiving text messages.
One of Motorola’s most popular phones, the 2004 Razr V3 was a slim clamshell phone which featured a large screen. It had a relatively flat keyboard, making it smaller than other phones of its time. It also included a camera and the capabilities of other phones. Motorola hoped that the phone would break ground in a world where most cell phones looked alike.
Apple released its smartphone, the iPhone, in 2007. It was more than just a cell phone, however; it was an entire computer that the user could slide into their pocket. It could do everything a computer could do, including provide high-speed access to the internet. Another revolutionary feature was the fact that it could encourage users to purchase applications that would allow them to use features such as Facebook and Twitter. Not only did the iPhone come out but the age of the apps started getting increase popularity alongside with the Android operating system as well.
Many Android phones began coming out and started becoming popular enough especially in 2009 and up. The competition between Android phones and Apple iOS operated phones started getting more heated between their loyal users, but the common trait between iPhone and Android users were the extensive use of apps. Now a day there’s an app for absolutely everything. In our current times now we solely depend on apps to make our busy day to day lives easier or just simply there to entertain us during long waits, but in our current days now in 2012, cell phones have also given rise other mobile devices known as electronic tablets, but that’s a whole other story on its own.
