Running head: Technology Lifecycle

Technology Lifecycle

Technology Lifecycle

In 1876 when the Mr. A. Graham Bell invented the first even telephone
in the world no one would imagine the same technology after much iteration
and modification will be able to do things which were just imaginary in 18 th
and early 19th century. Then we saw the maturity of this technology and
usages of it were enormous from personal, business and strategic point of
view. People were able to talk with each other real time from thousand of
kilometer apart. As time passed we had computers and then we had the toy
for every person a cell phone. Currently the cell phones or smart phone are
giving competition to basic utility of laptops and if we believe the trend this
may be possible in near future.
Human race did not see this day, without many struggle and many
small victories. Probably many inventors have contributed in this race so that
we can see this day and go beyond. If we talk about the cell phones, we
started seeing then in 1980s in the forms of car phones. But these phones
were mostly used by rich people. Then in the 1990 the first commercial cell
phone companies like Motorola/Nokia started focusing on making the cell
phone and we had these cell phones by the end of that decade. As such the
first personal handset was invented by Dr. Martine Cooper in the year 1973.
He was a scientist at the Motorola Corporation and his invention was called
Motorola DynaTAC. He is also credited to make first person to make call on
personal handset.

Technology Lifecycle

Here are some the very important timelines in jumpstarting Cell Phone
industry.
1843

This is the year when Mr. Micheal Faraday started researching

the possibility that space can conduct electricity. This will

Mid 1800

become the base for the many 19th century inventions.

The existence of the radio waves and electromagnetic waves is
confirmed by James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz. They also

1865

explore the properties of these waves.

Communication through Earth atmosphere is possible by using
an electrical conductor. Discovered by the Dr. Mahlon Loomis for
this work he gets $50000 from US governments for further

1800 to

research.
Many advances were made regarding the projection of radio

early1900

waves also the utilities of these waves in military and

1921

entertainment is established.
First mobile radios are installed in the squad cars of Police
Department in Detroit, Michigan. Using 2 MHz frequency. This
was the major steps but they faced many issues because of

1934

interference.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was created by the
U.S. Congress. FCC decided who can use which frequencies and
which channel. Initially most of the channels were reserved for

1940

the government and emergency services.

The mobile radios are very common and they are being used by
every police department, some wealthy peoples, several private

Technology Lifecycle

companies and organizations. These radios operate at 30 to 40

1945

MHz.
First mobile service was established in St. Louis, Missouri. FFC
has approved this project, the project failed because of massive

1947

interference.
First radio car phones were launch by AT&T. It used to work only
on highways between Boston and New York. Because of massive

1949

interference the project was declared failure.

The FCC opens many radio channels for other use. These are
known as Radio Common Carriers (RCC) and are the first link

1956

between mobile phones and telephones.

The first car phones which works across the united state. The
system require a personal operator to switch the calls as it still

1964

usage the push-to-talk phones.

Push-to-talk system is outdated as new operating system is
developed which allows customers to dial direct phone number.
FCC recognizes that RCC is legitimate competitors to the
landline phone companies. The new system operates on a single

1969

channel at 150 MHz

New Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS) is accepted
which upgraded the self dialing capabilities to 450 MHz and

1970

becomes a new US standard.

FCC allocates range of frequencies for the cell phones and

1971

realizes the potential of the cell phone industry.

AT&T is the first company to propose a modern-day mobile-

1973

phone system to the FCC. It involves dividing cities into "cells."

First Personal handset is invented by Dr. Martine Cooper who

Technology Lifecycle

1974

works for Motorola.

The FCC actually starts to encourage cellphone companies to

1975
1977

push forward the "cellular idea."

AT&T proposed its own cellular plan for the city of Chicago
Cell phone testing is permitted by the FCC in Chicago. The Bell

1981

Telephone Company gets the license, in partnership with AT&T.

The FCC makes firm rules about the growing cell

phone industry dealing with manufacturing. It rules that Western

Electric can manufacture products for both cellular and terminal
1983

use.
First commercial Mobile Phone launched by Motorola, Motorola
DynaTAC 8000X the cost of this phone was in the range of

1989

$4000. Offered only 30 minutes talk time.

Nokias First cell phone Mobira Cityman 900 is launched weighed

1990 to

just 800g. The mobile phone size is started to shrink.

Many Vendors and many handsets are available for customers

1999

and the technology is wildly accepted. Many companies start

1994

their operations.
The first Smart phone Simon from IBM went on sale to public.
This phone was the first touch screen, email enabled and reality
paved the way for modern day smart phone. This Model has
quite a few features that we use our current smart phone on

2007

regular basis.
First Iphone goes on sale for public, which will start an era of
smart phones and many more options will be added to this
devices as anyone can build the application which can run on
this devices.

Technology Lifecycle

Impact of the Cell Phone industry

Mr Richard, Ling in his book Mobile Connection: The Cell Phone's Impact on
Society states the mobile telephone allows us to be in touch perpetually
with others. We can send messages or call from wherever there is coverage.
The interaction can be initiated quite spontaneously. This makes clear that
cell phone increases the social one-on-one interaction. There are many
advantages on cell phone industry for the social interaction. On the other
hand we need to keep in mind the reliance on a relatively quick and cheap
form of interaction means that we might dispense with the longer and more
ponderous process of a personal visit. In certain relation this may not be
ideal way of interaction.
In my personal life, I rely on my cell phone a lot for my social
interaction. I have at least 10 different groups where I interact almost daily
with different people. These people not necessarily physically within same
country they can be situated across the world. I have my college friends
group and we are located almost 12 to 14 countries all over the world and
we can always know whats going on with our friends. My parents are in
India and I almost every day speak to them and in some time make
arrangement so that they are taken care. This is possible just because of
mobile and cell phone technology. I will probably not know where my high

Technology Lifecycle

schools friends are and how they are doing. For me this technology has
brought my world in my palm.

References
Ling, Richard. The Mobile Connection : The Cell Phone's Impact on Society.
Burlington, MA, USA: Morgan Kaufmann, 2004. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 21 February
2016.
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Flamme, M. (2015, Apr 26). Martin cooper's magic -- the portable

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