Evolution of cellphones: From 'brick' mobiles to touchscreen smartphones
It's
been a while — but do you remember the time when the cellphone
didn't exist? For some, it was a more uncluttered time. It was in the
early '80s that the first mobile phone came about. Previous 'wireless
communication systems' were too bulky to be called mobile —
although many did exist for military and civilian use.
The first generation of cellphones did nothing except calls — and that too for about 30 minutes; it was all that the battery in those days allowed. The next few generations were fondly called 'bricks'— not just for their appearance but also because they could come in handy as a blunt weapon if needed.
Between the '80s and '90s, devices kept evolving and getting more popular. In India, the first commercial cellphone and service launch was in July 1995 — so we were quite a few years behind at the time. It was a partnership between the Modi Group and Australian telecom operator Telstra that brought the first cellular network to India.
The Turning Point
The first generation of cellphones did nothing except calls — and that too for about 30 minutes; it was all that the battery in those days allowed. The next few generations were fondly called 'bricks'— not just for their appearance but also because they could come in handy as a blunt weapon if needed.
Between the '80s and '90s, devices kept evolving and getting more popular. In India, the first commercial cellphone and service launch was in July 1995 — so we were quite a few years behind at the time. It was a partnership between the Modi Group and Australian telecom operator Telstra that brought the first cellular network to India.
The Turning Point
The
turning point in India for the cellphone would be some time in 1998.
That was around the time when networks really expanded, cellphones
became increasingly popular, and the call rates became a little less
ludicrous. The time before that could be called BC (Before
Cellphones), and the period post-1998 AD (After Dependence).
Because anyone who started using a phone in 1998 or later remains a user to this day. Pre-1998, only the richest people owned one and most of them hardly used it. Some, deterred by local call rates that went as high as Rs 60 per minute, kept them away in drawers. There was no second-hand market for cellphones in those days.
Because anyone who started using a phone in 1998 or later remains a user to this day. Pre-1998, only the richest people owned one and most of them hardly used it. Some, deterred by local call rates that went as high as Rs 60 per minute, kept them away in drawers. There was no second-hand market for cellphones in those days.
The
year 1998 was also when Nokia launched the indestructible and utterly
desirable 5110. Almost everyone had one or wanted one. It was also
this writer's first phone and the year that marked the beginning of
his love affair with cellphones.
The
Nokia 5110 was ultra-durable, had user interchangeable covers, a
stubby antenna, great battery life, crystal-clear call quality, a
clear LCD screen and it popularised the game that we all know as
'Snake'. Importantly, this was the time when local call rates from a
mobile phone were in the region of Rs 12 to Rs 18 per minute.
Incoming calls were still not free at this point.The Nokia 5110 was and is one of the most beautiful pieces of handheld technology ever created. It was fairly slim, lightweight, felt good in the hand, had stellar build quality and was a great first step into the world of mobile telephony. It powered on in precisely five seconds (unheard of today, in the age of smartphones) and had a standby time of a few days. The mono LCD was clear and legible under any lighting conditions.
The battery was external — meaning that no cover needed to be removed to replace the battery; the battery formed part of the back cover itself. Other components like the antenna stub, front fascia (faceplate) and rubber keypad were user replaceable. This was also the device that spawned a whole new industry — that of the 'duplicate' or after-market front fascia.
Since original Nokia replacement faceplates were expensive and available in a limited number of sober colours, the market quickly adapted to bring out zany colours, different finishes and custom designs. It was the precursor to the customised cellphone accessories of today.
Through the years
Post
the 5110, cellphones kept getting sleeker (with internal antennas!)
and smaller. The term 'upgrade cycles' would have been alien to many,
but it was two years later, in 2000, that the Nokia 3310 was launched
— this writer's second phone. Compared to the 5110, it was smaller,
lighter and had no external antenna.
This time, though, the entire phone was in a replaceable shell — it had a removable front and back plate. The fact that it was essentially the same as the 5110 didn't matter —the powerful design was a big draw. When your phone got scuffed and the screen got scratched, you could just buy a new casing without altering the actual screen, keypad or internal components — the aftermarket options for casings were aplenty and cheap. There was never a need for screen protectors or cases — and they didn't exist.
The Massive Upgrade Motivator
Barely a year later in 2001, the world was introduced to the concept of cellphones with tiny, colour screens. It was as big a deal as was the introduction of the first colour television in the early '80s. It was akin to having a tiny colour TV in your hand — it was such a powerful motivator that it had to be acquired. This writer got the Panasonic GD68 and it was amazing.
This time, though, the entire phone was in a replaceable shell — it had a removable front and back plate. The fact that it was essentially the same as the 5110 didn't matter —the powerful design was a big draw. When your phone got scuffed and the screen got scratched, you could just buy a new casing without altering the actual screen, keypad or internal components — the aftermarket options for casings were aplenty and cheap. There was never a need for screen protectors or cases — and they didn't exist.
The Massive Upgrade Motivator
Barely a year later in 2001, the world was introduced to the concept of cellphones with tiny, colour screens. It was as big a deal as was the introduction of the first colour television in the early '80s. It was akin to having a tiny colour TV in your hand — it was such a powerful motivator that it had to be acquired. This writer got the Panasonic GD68 and it was amazing.
Whatever
it cost was worth it just to see the look on people's faces when they
saw the tiny parrots on the screen in glorious 256 colour, 101x80
pixel resolution.
The Smartphone Years & Today
A Nokia 7650 was this writer's first smartphone, purchased in 2002 — it was a Symbian Series 60 phone, capable of several smart features like adding apps, sharing and Bluetooth. In the next three years, there was a long string of Symbian phones that followed: the Nokia 3660, 6600, N73 and N95.
This writer's first brush with touch phones was the Symbian UIQ-powered Sony Ericsson P910. It had a conventional keypad, QWERTY keypad and touchscreen which you could use with a finger or stylus. Today, practically everyone has moved on to precise, beautiful and fast touchscreen phones. Who knows what the next major evolution in cellphones will be.
The Smartphone Years & Today
A Nokia 7650 was this writer's first smartphone, purchased in 2002 — it was a Symbian Series 60 phone, capable of several smart features like adding apps, sharing and Bluetooth. In the next three years, there was a long string of Symbian phones that followed: the Nokia 3660, 6600, N73 and N95.
This writer's first brush with touch phones was the Symbian UIQ-powered Sony Ericsson P910. It had a conventional keypad, QWERTY keypad and touchscreen which you could use with a finger or stylus. Today, practically everyone has moved on to precise, beautiful and fast touchscreen phones. Who knows what the next major evolution in cellphones will be.
By Hitesh
Raj Bhagat, ET140914
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