Essay 2-Second Draft-Cell Phone Progression and Change

Kristen Roberts

Professor Kerr

EN 101-1

4 October 2010

Cell Phone Progression and Change

                In 1983, the first cell phone hit the market; it cost $3,395 (First Cell Phone). The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X was invented in 1973 by Dr. Martin Cooper, but it was not available for purchase until 1983 (Martin Cooper). Cooper made the first call from a cellular phone in 1973 from the DynaTAC to Joel Engel of Bell Labs research (Martin Cooper). AT&T and Bell Laboratories initially came up with the idea of cell phones in 1947 (First Cell Phone). However, Motorola and Dr. Martin Cooper were successful first (First Cell Phone). The DynaTAC had three basic functions; dial, listen, and talk (German). Since then, 37 years later, people have access to advanced phones like the Apple iPhone 4 (Apple). Cell phones have changed and progressed over the past 37 years in the areas of buying and owning, appearance and features, and usage and popularity.

Buying a cell phone, cell phone providers or service, and cell phones across the world are different from 1983. The first cell phone sold for $3,395 (First Cell Phone). Currently, cell phones cost anywhere from around $50 to around $500 (Review Gist). The first service provider was Motorola but AT&T was close behind (Martin Cooper). Currently, the most popular providers are Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile (Providers Review). When phones were first being sold, there was a waiting list to get one; now they are available on-site at multiple stores (History).  Cell phones are more common because they are cheaper and have become much easier to obtain.

                Cell phones have progressed over time in appearance and capabilities. The DynaTAC 8000X, the first cell phone, weighed 2.5 pounds in 1983; it’s dimensions were 9 X 5 X 1.75 inches (Martin Cooper). It was nicknamed “the brick” (First Cell Phone).  Today, phones can be as light as 3.3 ounces (Best Small Phones). On the first cell phone there was no display screen; there were only numbers to dial (Martin Cooper). On current cell phones there is always a display screen (Verizon). On earlier models of cell phones the phone was one solid piece (Martin Cooper). Today, you can buy a phone that flips, slides, or is one solid piece (Verizon). Dial, talk, and listen were the only features of the first cell phone (Martin Cooper). Now, one of the most advanced cell phones, the iPhone 4 can perform luxury tasks (Apple). These tasks include video calling, web browsing, built-in iPod and iTunes, and an app for almost anything (Apple). Even the most basic phones have more functions than the first cell phone; those functions include texting, voicemail, and cameras with photo storage (Verizon). Lastly, battery life for the first cell phone was only 35 minutes before it needed to be charged for a full ten hours (Martin Cooper). The new iPhone 4 has a battery that lasts 38 hours on heavy use (Zee). Cell phones are continuing to increase their features, functions, and aesthetic appeal.

                Cell phone popularity, uses of cell phones, and who uses them has progressed or changed since 1973. When cell phones first emerged they were expensive (First Cell Phone). People who had more money or business people were more likely to own a cell phone (History). Today, teenagers and college students own and use cell phones the most (Burns).  Because the cost decreased, more average people are now able to own a cell phone. In the 1980’s cell phones were used for communication between families and friends, multitasking, calling home, and convenience calling in emergencies (Stewart). Currently, cell phones can be used for that and many more things. Advanced cell phones can be used for accessing the internet or checking the weather (Apple). The first place that cell phones were released was in the United States (Martin Cooper). So naturally, the United States owned the most cell phones in 1983. Cell phones have progressed and spread because now China has 547,286,000 people who own cell phones, the largest ownership in the world (2007) (CIA World Fact Book). The European Union has 466,000,000 (2005), India has 362,300,000 (2009), and the United States, the creator of the cell phone, comes in fourth place with 255,000,000 cell phones (2007). Since 1983 cell phones are used for many more things and used by many more people (CIA World Fact Book). Cell phones have increased their popularity and uses since they first came about.

                Currently, new technology is being explored to enhance cell phones and continue the progression of cell phones over the years. Apple is experimenting with 3G wireless chip technology that will be used in the upcoming Apple iPhone 5, which should be released mid-2011 (Evans). Apple teamed up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to manufacture a chip with a 65-nanometre process (Evans). A 65-nanometre process will contribute to the progression of cell phones with power saving techniques, and faster technology (Intel). Companies like Apple are always trying to improve technology for the progression of cell phones and cell phone technology.

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