When was the cell phone invented
By: Want To Know It
Cell phones are very useful electronic devices that allow you to talk to or text message other people. Cell phones are fast becoming one of the most popular pieces of technology and nearly everyone ones a cell phone. I remember first getting a cell phone (of course, we call them mobile phones here in Australia) when I was 14. It was the size of a brick! Now, cell phones are very streamlined and made for a new generation of users. This post will answer the question when was the cell phone invented and also look at some facts about the cell phone.
When was the cell phone invented?
American Telephone and Telegraph thought about creating a wireless phone way back in 1915. However, they were afraid that this great technology would undermine its monopoly on wired services in the United States. It took 63 years for the first cell phone to be released to the public in Japan. It was invented by a man named Martin Cooper in 1973 while he was working for Motorola. So now you know when the cell phone was invented. Now let’s look at some interesting facts about the cell phone.
Facts about cell phones:
- The first cell phone released by Motorola was the DynaTec phone. It cost a whopping $3,500 and did not sell particularly well to the general public (I wonder why!)
- The Nokia Communication was the first mobile phone to enable wireless email and internet connection. It was released in 1996.
- Ringtones were first sold in 1998.
- Over half the world’s population is currently subscribed to a mobile phone service. Some suspect that this number is inflated as it takes old subscriptions that are no longer used into account.
- Whether or not cell phones may really be a risk at gas stations (petrol stations) is unknown. Some tests (such as the MythBusters) determined that there is no risk but other studies disagree.
57 Comments for When was the cell phone invented
1. beth | November 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
where was the cell phone invented by martin cooper?
2. timjon | November 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 am
It was probably in New York, as that is where he made the very first phone call on a cell phone- see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2963619.stm
3. Rachel Young | January 7th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
when did text messaging become available and start evolving?
4. Want to know it | January 9th, 2009 at 10:54 am
The first text message was sent in 1989. It took a long time to catch on, and only started evolving from about the year 2000. In 2000, 17 billion text messages were sent and in 2004 this went up to 500 billion!
5. Kawaii-Hime!! | February 26th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Omg! My mom would kill me if I bought a phone that cost $3,500.
6. Kawaii-Hime!! | March 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
what year was the first cell phone released in America?
7. Want to know it | March 4th, 2009 at 12:11 am
The first cell phone was released in America in 1983.
8. jessica | March 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
you are really helpful for my school projects thanks a lot
9. kay kay the dhope pricesss | June 11th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
when did he die? any more things Martin Cooper invented?
10. Want to know it | June 12th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Actually, he is still alive. He was born in 1928- so he is 81 now. I couldn’t find any info on other inventions. However, he is the CEO and founder of ArrayComm, a company which works on researching smart antennae technology and improving wireless networks.
11. julie | July 28th, 2009 at 4:31 am
thanks a heap guys. this helped me with my pip heaps.
12. donna | August 4th, 2009 at 2:12 am
thanks alot guys. you helped me on my project.
13. Hinamori | September 16th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hey does anyone know the advantages and disadvantages of the first cell phone? Thank you!
14. Want to know it | September 16th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
There really weren’t many advantages- it could make phone calls and that’s about it. The disadvantages were that it was expensive, had limited coverage and was big and heavy.
15. Hinamori | September 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Thank you!
16. Rebecca | September 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Is there anymore history on the cell phone?
17. Want to know it | September 19th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Sure- try wikipedia!
18. Binisha Giri | November 10th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
when were mobile phones first released in Bhutan?
19. Want to know it | November 11th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Mobile phones were first released in Bhutan in November, 2003.
20. Alexa | November 16th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
thank you helped me for my project
21. emo kid | December 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
why was the cell phone invented?
22. Want to know it | December 23rd, 2009 at 4:37 am
Simple- to create a phone that could be taken and used anywhere (no lines or wires).
23. emo kid | December 23rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
thanks you helped my project alot
24. emo kid | December 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
why was the first cell phone $3,500
25. emo kid | December 23rd, 2009 at 5:05 pm
where was the cell phone invented?
26. Want to know it | December 24th, 2009 at 2:54 am
The first cell phone was $3,500 because it was expensive to make and was a ‘rare’ item. As I said above, the cell phone was probably invented in New York as that is where the first cell phone call was made.
27. halle | December 28th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
what did the cell phone replace? or improve upon?
28. *soccerrocker* | December 29th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
OK so here is another question…
if the first line to opening communication was when the alphabet was invented by the Phoenicians in 2900 BC, why did it take so long to evolve? I mean it wasn’t until 1832 the the telegraph was invented, which i think is the closest ‘relative’ to the telephone, so it was thousands of years. Were people just content with letters?
29. areryetry | January 7th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
thank you guy’s verry much i really enjoy it thanks for telling me the information!!
30. kharen | January 8th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
who was the first person to use it?
31. Want to know it | January 11th, 2010 at 3:15 am
First person to use a cell phone was the inventor- Martin Cooper
32. Want to know it | January 11th, 2010 at 3:25 am
@Halle:
The cell phone hasn’t really replaced ordinary telephones as many people still use them. However, it allows phone calls to be made from (almost) anywhere. Hence, it has improved communication- allowing calls (and text messages) to be sent all over the world.
33. Want to know it | January 11th, 2010 at 3:28 am
@soccerrocker:
A great question and one I don’t really know the answer to. For some reason, most inventions have occurred only in recent times.
34. Nissa | January 20th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Oh wow. i bet martin cooper is filthy rich!!
35. ApOlinA from SaipAn | January 26th, 2010 at 3:46 am
thank you so much for the information about when cell phones were first invented!!! it helped me alot with our PowerPoint Assignment!!! lol bye
36. unknown | February 1st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
yeah you helped me for my project to! thx! i probably would have flunked!
37. nicholle | February 7th, 2010 at 1:23 am
What were the resources used to create a cell phone?
Also, what was the need/want that led to the development of the cell phone
38. Want to know it | February 8th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Nicholle,
I answered the 2nd question above (see comment 22).
Mobile phone are made from various polymers (plastics) and different metals for the wiring and battery. The batteries are usually nickel metal-hydride, lithium ion or lithium-polymer.
39. Nicole | February 28th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
How do i cite this website in MLA format? Can i have the author’s name?
40. Want to know it | March 2nd, 2010 at 12:34 am
Name- Timothy John
41. CHARITY | March 11th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Omg thanks so much I’m doing a project on texting and this is the first site I’ve found that has had the right info thanks so much
42. Antwanette Ashley | March 14th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
what year did cell phones develop games?
43. Want to know it | March 15th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
The first ‘mobile game’ was released in 1997. That game was ‘Snake’, pre-installed on many Nokia cell phones.
44. JR | March 16th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Good site, helped a lot. Where do you get all this information? Do you just google it?
45. Want to know it | March 17th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Various sources. I use different encyclopedias and text books for the various posts here.
46. danielle manes | April 23rd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
i can’t live with out a phone:)
47. emily | April 26th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
what was the process martin cooper went through from the beginning to the end in order to create the cell phone?
48. Want to know it | April 26th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Wouldn’t have a clue and I really doubt you could find information that detailed.
49. DarrylLee | April 30th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Thanks Alot ; This Really Helped For My Project ‘
50. bobby | May 4th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
my mom would also kill especially cause ive already got one
51. dana | May 17th, 2010 at 5:04 am
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
52. elsie | May 17th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
when did cell phones get internet?
53. Want to know it | May 19th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Elise,
The first cell phone with internet connection was released in 1996.
54. Austin Reed | May 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
why did it take so long to make a simple machine for like thousands of years if ppl were so smart back in the day
55. Want to know it | May 20th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
It couldn’t be invented without electricity and the discovery of many important metals which are essential parts of the electrical and other components. A cell phone is not a ’simple machine’ at all.
56. rob clark | June 12th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Martin likely invented cell phone in Schaumburg, Illinois since that is Motorola’s headquarters and major research facility at the time. New York’s call was to introduce it to the media
57. Julian | July 28th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Thx alot… helped me alot on my english oral…. I forgot about the oral and then started it at 6 in the morning and finished it in 15 minutes… lol Thx
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