Martin Cooper is credited as the inventor of the device. But the history of the cell phone began in the 1940s as various forms of radio communications emerged. The facts show the first mobile communications was used in Sweden in 1946. The phone however, could only make half a dozen phone calls before the battery expired.
The 1940s and 1960s
Improvements appeared in 1947 with the introduction of hexagonal cells for mobile communications. Bell Labs also produced cell towers that can relay and receive signals in multiple directions. The other innovations would appear in the 1960s.
By 1967, the mobile phone was available for use. But one had to be confined at a cell area. The cell areas that were serviced using a base station could not hand off calls to another station.
1970s
In 1973, the history of the cell phone changed with the works of Dr. Martin Cooper. Cooper set up a base station in New York and started work on a cell phone. He called it the Motorola Dyna-Tac. It was showcased to the public in New York.
But it wasn’t until 1977 that the cellular phone would undergo public testing. The testing began in Chicago. Soon enough, the cell phone would be sold in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and the other states. Other countries would follow suit. Japan started its cell phone service in 1979.
The 1980s and 1990s
Various innovations appeared, but it was in 1988 that the Cellular Technology Industry Association (CTIA) was established to set down guidelines for the cell phone providers. This would include any research done concerning cell phones.
Another standard was implemented in 1991 with the formation of the TDMA Interim Standard 54. It was set up by the Telecommunications Industry Association.
3rd Generation Phones
This is the most widely used cell phone technology today. Known also as 3G, this standard was established just a few years after the 2nd generation phones came out. This became possible due to the rapid advances being made.
It should be stated that 3G technology is not a precise standard. Rather, it has more to do with specifications that the manufacturers must adhere to. The maximum data is 2 megabits for indoors and 384 kbits outdoors.
The history of the cell phone will show that the technology used is always evolving. Today there are fourth generation phones being developed. Doubtless as time passes, more features will be implemented in these devices.
