Blast from the Past: The Revolutionary Mobile Phones of the 80s
The 1980s was an era of many firsts, where the technology revolution began to take on new shapes and sizes. One of the most significant changes that we saw during this period was the advent of mobile phones. The 80s was the decade that witnessed the rise of the mobile phone, and it brought with it a new wave of communication technology.
Brick-Like Phones
The first mobile phones were known as ‘brick-like’ phones and were manufactured by Motorola. These phones were bulky and weighed more than two pounds, making it challenging to carry it around. They were also expensive, capturing only a small market share. However, the brick-like phones represented a significant breakthrough in communications technology and paved the way for future innovations.
The First Cellular Phone
The DynaTAC 8000x was the first commercially available mobile phone that was launched in 1983. It was the size of a brick, weighed two and a half pounds, and cost $3,995 (which would have been around $10,000 in today’s currency). The phone had limited battery life, only 30 minutes of talk time, and took ten hours to charge. Despite its limitations, the DynaTAC 8000x was a game-changer in the world of mobile phones.
The First Flip Phone
The iconic Motorola StarTAC was launched in 1996, and it was the first clamshell-style flip phone. It was significantly smaller and lighter than the brick-like phones, weighing only 3.1 ounces. The StarTAC was also the first mobile phone to support vibration alert, caller ID, and voice-activated dialling.
The First Smart Phone
The IBM Simon was the first smartphone, which was launched in 1993. The IBM Simon had a touch screen, 1MB of memory and supported email, fax capabilities, and even had a built-in PDA. However, it was costly, retailing for $899, and it did not gain much traction in the market.
Conclusion
Mobile phones have come a long way since their inception in the 1980s. Today, we have smartphones that are powerful enough to replace a desktop computer, and with a battery life that lasts all day. As technology continues to evolve, it’s fascinating to look back at the first mobile phones that started it all. The brick-like phones, DynaTAC 8000x, Motorola StarTAC, and IBM Simon represent the early stages of the mobile phone revolution. From being bulky and expensive, mobile phones have become sleek, lightweight, and affordable. The technological advancements in mobile phones hold promise for what the future might hold, and they’re undoubtedly changing the world.
