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1983-1990
In 1983 the world got the first ever portable mobile phone in the shape of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. It cost an eye-watering $4000 USD and was a huge status symbol at the time. Two years later the first mobile phone call on UK soil was made, the then Vodafone Chairman Sir Ernest Harrison, the lucky recipient. In 1989 Motorola followed up the DynaTAC with 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 90's. -
1991-1994
GSM first launched in Europe 1991 with the Orbitel TPU 900 first to market, but it wasn't until 1992 that mobiles were no longer restricted to business use. Mass production paved the way for cost-effective consumer handsets with digital displays. Nokia was one of the first to take advantage of this transition, with the Nokia 1011 arriving that year. -
1995-1998
Although it only offered four colors, 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 Erickson 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. -
1999-2000
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 and the release of the Sony Ericsson T68i and its clip-on camera, that western markets started to take an interest in the camera phone. -
2000-2003
Between 2000 and 2003, two of the biggest changes took place in the physical configuration of cell phones. The first cellphone with a full QWERTY (typewriter style) keyboard was available, and the first Smartphones with touchscreen or LCD screens came to market. Smartphones are the transition between a phone/texting device and the computer. Although still in their infancy, Smartphones had the capacity to download and utilize software programs, more commonly known as applications or apps. -
2004-2006
By 2004, “Smartphone” had already advanced and allowed for global signal roaming. This device incorporated the previous tools of other cellphones into a compact digital device and initiated some of the biggest changes to follow. Housing stronger cameras, the ability to allow for global roaming, and downloading of software programs, called applications or ‘apps’, set the stage for cellular mobile devices to become as powerful as laptops, in the near future. -
2007-2010
Swiping and scrolling replaced the traditional button method of input. The LG Prada being the first touchscreen to market ahead of the Apple iPhone in May 2007. However, Apple proved to have both the stronger brand and superior knowledge of capacitive touchscreen's potential. -
2011-2014
Smartphones became increasingly central to modern life, offering much more than just communication features. The UK’s first 4G service launched in 11 cities by EE in 2012 taking download speeds up to 12mbps. Voice recognition became common place first with Google Voice before Apple launched Siri into the market. Samsung added a built-in heart rate monitor to their flagship Galaxy S5 to capitalize on growth in mobile health & fitness. -
2015-2018
The global adoption of 4G vastly improves video streaming and video calling capabilities. Screen sizes continue to grow to maximize the experience of these features, with the iPhone 7 Plus display now 57% larger than the original iPhone from 2007. Mobile payments also emerge with Apple Pay and Android Pay offering users the possibility of buying things with their smartphone. -
2019-Present Day
EE launches the UK’s first 5G service in 6 cities throughout May 2019. The fifth-generation network promises vastly superior data speeds and reliability, boosting ultra-high-resolution video streaming and mobile gaming. Handset design trends continue to push for an all-screen experience, with OnePlus introducing the pop-up selfie camera to its flagship 7 Pro device to do away with the notch altogether.
