April 3rd is the 40th anniversary of the of the first cell phone ever made. This amazing gadget that most take for granted has traveled a long way down a bulky path to get to where it is today.
Mashable created this infographic, which follows the history of cellphones from the first wireless phone call ever made by Martin Cooper in 1973, to the concept phones that are expected to launch in 2013.
The decrease in prices and the increase in battery life is extraordinary. While the 1983 Motorola Dynatac 8000X was over $3,000 with a battery life of only 30 minutes, the 2007 Apple iPhone was $499 with over 7 hours of battery. The amazing journey mobile technology has been through is an admirable retrogression that deserves to be celebrated on its 40th anniversary.
Celebratory Mobile History Charts
This Infographic is Celebrating the 40th Cell Phone Anniversary
Trend Themes
1. Wireless Evolution - The history of cell phones shows the evolution from bulky, expensive devices with short battery life to sleek, affordable devices with long battery life, presenting opportunities for further innovation in wireless technology.
2. Concept Phones - The concept phones expected to launch in 2013 presents opportunities for innovation in mobile technology, pushing the boundaries of what we think is possible in terms of design and features.
3. Data Privacy - As mobile phones have become essential to daily life, the increasing amount of personal data they collect presents opportunities for innovators to create more secure methods of data storage and transfer.
Industry Implications
1. Telecommunications - The history of cell phones presents opportunities for telecommunications companies to innovate in wireless network infrastructure, connectivity and coverage.
2. Consumer Electronics - The evolution of cell phone design and features presents opportunities for consumer electronics companies to continue innovating sleeker designs, advancing hardware and software capabilities, and creating new product categories.
3. Cybersecurity - The increasing amount of personal data collected by mobile phones presents opportunities for cybersecurity companies to innovate in data encryption, authentication and privacy protection.