The Evolution of Mobile Phones

Cell phones have come a long way since they were first introduced in the 1960s.

The evolution of the mobile phone is based on radio technology from the 1940s on. Mobile phones originated with the two-way radios used in vehicles such as police cars and taxis.

Cell Phones

Cell phones that were introduced in the 1960s received signals from cell towers, which broadcast and received signals in three, rather than two directions. Use of the first cell phones was restricted to one area serviced by one station.

1980s and 1990s

The first mobile phones were clunky and weighed 20 or more pounds. In 1983, Motorola introduced the DynaTAC 8000X, which weighed about 28 ounces. In the 1980s, phones could be used in more than one area. In the 1990s, second generation, or 2G digital phones, began to take over. These phones dropped fewer calls and provided better sound quality.

3G Phones

Third-generation cell phones (3G) are the current standard, as of 2010. These phones allow texting, and some are email-, Internet- and WiFi-capable. Others even provide radio and TV access. These computers are becoming more similar to computers.

References

• TopBits: History of Cell Phones