Mobile phones have come a long way since they were first introduced in the early 1980s. In the beginning, they were large, bulky, and expensive devices that were mainly used for making and receiving calls. Today, mobile phones are smaller, more affordable, and offer a wide range of features and applications. With the advent of smartphones, mobile phones have become even more powerful and versatile. Thanks to ever-evolving technology, mobile phones continue to get better and better.
What you will learn
- The history and evolution of Mobile
- How mobile usage has changed in the last four decades
- Features available on today’s mobile devices
- What the explosive growth of mobile use means for you?
Mobiles have radically changed the world we live in. And, it seems like mobile devices continue to evolve at lightning speed.
- The first mobile phone call was made in 1973
- Portable mobile Phone 1983 – 1990:
The first truly portable commercial mobile phone went on sale in 1984. A Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, it cost a whopping 2,500 GBP, $4000 USD! – the feature of this era is Mobile calls.
- In 1989 Motorola released the 9800X or MicroTAC, it came with a fold-down keyboard cover and set the standard for the flip phone form factor seen throughout the 90s. – the feature of this era is Mobile calls.
3. Dawn of consumer Handset 1991 – 1994:
The Orbitel TPU 900 was launched in 1991, – the features of this era were Mobile calls, SMS, and games.
Mobiles were open to individuals in 1992. Mobiles were previously restricted to business use before 1992.
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4. Splash of color 1995 – 1998:
The Siemens S10 brought mobile phone displays to life for the first time in 1997. The same year Hagenuk launched the Global Handy, the first device without an external aerial. Customization also kicked off in a big way with Ericcson offering swappable colored front keyboard panels. The following year Nokia launched a range of ‘Xpress-on’ interchangeable covers on the 5100 series, making it the first fashion-orientated phone.
The features from this era were
- SMS, Vibrate alert, and color screen.
- Growth of feature Phone 1999 – 2002:
1999 saw Nokia unveil the 7110 which was the first device to take advantage of WAP (a means of accessing information over a mobile wireless network). A year later Sharp launched the world’s very first camera phone, the J-SH04. It was only available in Japan but signaled the start of the public’s obsession with phone photography. However, it wasn’t until 2002 that the release of the Sony Ericsson T68i and its clip-on camera, that western markets started to take an interest in the camera phone.
Features from the era
- Internet, video calling, GPS, predictive text, camera, polyphonic ringing tone, MP3 player, Bluetooth, memory sim card, MMS.
- Mobile Data Revolution 2003 – 2006:
The implementation of 3G took download speeds up to 2MBS in March 2003 with “3” the first to offer the service in the UK. RIM brought mobile email to the masses with its range of popular BlackBerry devices like the 8100 Pearl. The advent of front-facing cameras in 2003 on devices such as the Sony Ericsson Z1010 meant video calling became possible, but not popular.
Features from this Era
- Ringtone, Augmented Reality, Wi-Fi, waterproof, Web browsing.
- Getting Smarter 2007 – 2010:
Swiping and scrolling replaced the traditional button method of input. The LG Prada was the first touchscreen to market ahead of the Apple iPhone in May 2007. However, Apple proved to have both a stronger brand and superior knowledge of capacitive touchscreen’s potential.
Features from these Era
- NFC, Touch Screen, Wireless charging, Mobile Apps.
- Life Companion 2011 – 2014:
Smartphones became increasingly central to modern life, offering much more than just communication features.
Features from this era
- Voice control, Dual camera, fingerprint, facial recognition, HD screen.
- Size matters 2015 – 2018:
The worldwide implementation of 4G enhances video streaming and video calling to a great extent. To optimize these features, screen sizes are growing as well, with the iPhone 7 Plus display being 57% larger than the original iPhone from 2007. In addition, mobile payments are now possible with Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Features from this era
- Scanner, Apple and Android Pay, in-display fingerprint sensor.
- Super-fast world:
The superfast world is one of immense change and opportunity. With the launch of 5G in the UK, we are on the cusp of a new era of connectivity. This new network promises to revolutionize how we live, work, and play. From streaming ultra-high-resolution video to gaming on the go, 5G will change the way we use our mobile devices. And with handset design trends moving toward an all-screen experience, we are closer than ever to a truly immersive mobile experience.
As you can see, mobile phones have evolved dramatically, shrinking in size and expanding in features. Mobile phones are no longer just a way to make phone calls, they have grown to become a powerful multimedia device, we can browse the Internet, check email, take pictures, navigate with GPS, post on social media, and much, much more. Mobile phones have grown to be an essential part of our everyday lives.
Mobile devices have changed so much in the last few decades; that it seems that anything is possible in the future.
Nowadays, adults spend an average of 5 hours a day on their mobile devices. That means, for the first time ever, we’re now using these devices even more than our computers and laptops. Today’s mobile users tend to have their phones in one hand while they watch TV. And, they’re more active than ever on social media.
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What the explosive growth of mobile use means for your Business
This simply means your marketing approach needs to change to reach customers where they are. And these days, that means on mobile.
So, whether you want to increase brand awareness. Encourage customer loyalty. Or grow your revenues. Mobile devices can offer your business numerous opportunities to reach the right customers, in the right place, at the right time.
How do you take advantage of the power of mobile phones?
You can get started by designing a website that works well on mobile devices.
Let’s say you run a clothing store and you want to increase your customer base,
- You can run social media, or google ads to direct people to your website.
- Your mobile-optimized site could have a promo button on the homepage, that offers new customers 20% off their first purchase.
- The phone number near the top of your page, when viewed on mobile, can be clicked to start a phone call.
- You can also create a mobile app for easy shopping and checkout to keep customers loyal to your brand.
- Links can be shortened, so they can be easily shared on social media. And that’s just a few examples of the many, many ways your business can use mobile to grow.
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