There’s no doubt cellphones have changed us. But for good or bad? My answer in 60 seconds.
Tech nostalgia: 10 iconic cellphones we miss
The first cellphone call was placed in 1973 by the “Father of the Cellphone,” Marty Cooper. He used a prototype Motorola phone that laid the basis for the first commercially available cellphone 10 years later.
“The battery life of this phone was less than a half-hour of talking,” Marty told Kim Komando in a radio interview last year. “It turns out that wasn’t a problem, Kim, because you couldn’t carry that phone up to your ear for 25 minutes, it was so heavy!” Tap or click here to listen to what Marty told the head of AT&T’s rival project when he placed the first-ever cellphone call.
The first cellphones had two functions: talk and listen. Text messaging, cameras and apps came later. Some of us can recall the clunky early phones of the 1980s, while others are of the flip-phone generation. We gathered 10 of history’s most iconic cellphones to bring you back.
1. Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
The first mobile cellphone that wasn’t tied to a car or small suitcase was Motorola’s DynaTAC 8000X, which came out in 1983. It cost $3,995, or $10,950 today. Though this phone was not intended for the mass market, it was the first truly mobile phone that could connect to a network with the need of an operator.
These phones are considered collector’s items and are going for a pretty penny on eBay.
2. T-Mobile Sidekick
Originally called the Hiptop, the Sidekick was introduced in 2002 by T-Mobile. It had a monochrome screen that could be rotated 180 degrees. Slide out the screen and you’ll find a full QWERTY keyboard and trackball.
The Sidekick wasn’t the first smartphone, but it did feature downloadable apps, email, instant messaging and even a cloud service.
The Sidekick became a status symbol for celebrities. Do a Google search of Sidekick phones from the 2000s and you’ll find it in the hands of A-list movie stars, athletes and musicians.
Can cellphones cause cancer? 5 steps to minimize the risk
I have lost count of the number of times someone has called my national radio show or emailed me asking about a tech myth.
Here’s one I’m asked quite a bit. Will charging your phone overnight ruin the battery? Tap or click for my final ruling.