What where phones like 50 years ago?

Answer 1

On September 21, 1983, Motorola made history when the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approved the DynaTAC 8000X phone, the world's first commercial handheld portable cell phone. After more than 10 years and a $100 million investment, Motorola's commitment produced an innovative portable technology that revolutionized the communications industry and changed the lives of people around the world forever. The 28-ounce (794-gram) phone became available to consumers in 1984. The DynaTAC 8000X model featured specs that included 30 minutes talk time, eight hours of standby time and a massive size of 13 x 1.75 x 3.5 inches. It first became available to consumers in 1984 with a price tag of $3,995. When Motorola engineers began researching cellular technology, they soon recognized its potential. But their vision went far beyond car-based phone technology. "When you park your car and leave, you can't use your mobile, but you can take your portable with you," stated Martin Cooper, who was one of the leaders in early cellular development at Motorola. Creating the first wireless portable cell phone in the world was an enormous challenge. No one had ever seen one before, so there was nothing to compare it to. Cooper called on Motorola's industrial design director, Rudy Krolopp, and his team to design the shape of the phone. A three-dimensional model needed to be built within days in order to have a working prototype for the FCC meeting in six weeks. After several days of continual work, Krolopp's team gathered for dinner at a nearby restaurant to present their concepts. Hours later, they emerged with a winning design. "We called it a shoe phone, because it sort of looked a little bit like a boot," recalled Krolopp. Martin Cooper is the inventor named on US Patent Number 3,906,166 entitled "Radio telephone system" filed on October 17, 1973. He is considered the inventor of the first handheld mobile phone and the first person to make a call on a mobile phone on April 3, 1973. That first call, placed to his rival Dr. Joel S. Engel, Bell Labs' head of research was made standing on a street near the Manhattan Hilton, New York. Mr. Cooper decided to attempt a private call before going to a press conference upstairs in the hotel. He picked up the 2-pound Proto type Motorola handset called the Dyna-Tac and pushed the "off hook" button. The phone came alive, connecting Mr. Cooper with the base station on the roof of the Burlington Consolidated Tower (now the Alliance Capital Building) and into the landline system. To the bewilderment of some passers-by, he dialed the number and held the phone to his ear. The race was on. An excerpt from the 'Essentail Mobile Phone Handbook' First published in 2002 by GSM Solutions Ltd On September 21, 1983, Motorola made history when the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approved the DynaTAC 8000X phone, the world's first commercial handheld portable cell phone. After more than 10 years and a $100 million investment, Motorola's commitment produced an innovative portable technology that revolutionized the communications industry and changed the lives of people around the world forever. The 28-ounce (794-gram) phone became available to consumers in 1984. The DynaTAC 8000X model featured specs that included 30 minutes talk time, eight hours of standby time and a massive size of 13 x 1.75 x 3.5 inches. It first became available to consumers in 1984 with a price tag of $3,995. When Motorola engineers began researching cellular technology, they soon recognized its potential. But their vision went far beyond car-based phone technology. "When you park your car and leave, you can't use your mobile, but you can take your portable with you," stated Martin Cooper, who was one of the leaders in early cellular development at Motorola. Creating the first wireless portable cell phone in the world was an enormous challenge. No one had ever seen one before, so there was nothing to compare it to. Cooper called on Motorola's industrial design director, Rudy Krolopp, and his team to design the shape of the phone. A three-dimensional model needed to be built within days in order to have a working prototype for the FCC meeting in six weeks. After several days of continual work, Krolopp's team gathered for dinner at a nearby restaurant to present their concepts. Hours later, they emerged with a winning design. "We called it a shoe phone, because it sort of looked a little bit like a boot," recalled Krolopp. Martin Cooper is the inventor named on US Patent Number 3,906,166 entitled "Radio telephone system" filed on October 17, 1973. He is considered the inventor of the first handheld mobile phone and the first person to make a call on a mobile phone on April 3, 1973. That first call, placed to his rival Dr. Joel S. Engel, Bell Labs' head of research was made standing on a street near the Manhattan Hilton, New York. Mr. Cooper decided to attempt a private call before going to a press conference upstairs in the hotel. He picked up the 2-pound Proto type Motorola handset called the Dyna-Tac and pushed the "off hook" button. The phone came alive, connecting Mr. Cooper with the base station on the roof of the Burlington Consolidated Tower (now the Alliance Capital Building) and into the landline system. To the bewilderment of some passers-by, he dialed the number and held the phone to his ear. The race was on. An excerpt from the 'Essential Mobile Phone Handbook' First published in 2002 by GSM Solutions Ltd

Answer 2

No they didn't. The first mobile phone was demonstrated by Dr Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973. The first mobile to become commercially available to the public was in 1983.

Because you would need silicon, plastic,a connection and manly a constant source of electricity. These did not exist back then or were very rare.

Of course not - the technology available at the time prevented the invention.

Cells phones require a level of technology that was not available 100, or even 50, years ago.

• The existence of large scale integrated circuitry used in phones was preceded by circuits on a chip preceded by transistors preceded by vacuum tubes.
• The current encryption and compression technology required in cell phones required mathematical knowledge not developed or understood.
• The batteries in cell phones were beyond the technology of 50 years ago.
• The use of audio microphones, speakers, printed circuitry and wire technology were not known 100 years ago.
• The ability to record text, pictures and video on semiconductor did not exist 50 years ago.

Answer 3

In the 1960s, the look of telephones were changing. While rotary phones still dominated the market, the first touchtone phones were being introduced. Both rotary and touchtone phones were large and bulky, but they were becoming much more fashionable.

Answer 4

Nonexistent.

The first cell phone was used 3 April 1973.

Answer 5

No they didn't. The first mobile phone was demonstrated by Dr Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973. The first mobile to become commercially available to the public was in 1983.