A Brief Timeline History of The Cellular Phone

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NEW YORK---If you were to ask the casual world citizen today who invented the smartphone, chances are that most people would say Apple. Others, considering themselves more astute, might say Research In Motion (RIM) or Nokia. All of the above guesses, though sincere, are absolutely wrong. A quick internet search will quickly reveal that the invention of smartphone dates back to IBM in 1992, the same year text messaging was invented. As for the invention of the cell phone itself, you would have to travel back to 1973 when its inventor, Dr Martin Cooper, made the first cell phone call to a rival using a technology that was invented in 1947. And without the contribution of genius inventor Andre Gray's transformation of the cell phone from a mere communications device into a multimedia/entertainment device, we cannot bare the thought of a boring phone that can only make phone calls and send text messages. Read the timeline history below about a fascinating communications tool that is bigger and much more ubiquitous than even the internet itself.

1947-The basic concept of cellular phones began. Bell Laboratories introduced the idea of cellular communications in with the police car technology.

1968-The FCC reconsidered its position in 1968, stating "if the technology to build a better mobile service works, we will increase the frequencies allocation, freeing the airwaves for more mobile phones

1973-Dr Martin Cooper, a former general manager for the systems division at Motorola, is considered the inventor of the first modern portable handset. He made the call to his rival, Joel Engel, Bell Labs head of research.

1977-AT&T and Bell Labs had constructed a prototype cellular system.

1979 -The first commercial cellular telephone system began operation in Tokyo.

1981- Motorola and American Radio telephone started a second U.S. cellular radio-telephone system test in the Washington/Baltimore area.

1982- The slow-moving FCC finally authorized commercial cellular service for the USA.

1987- Cellular telephone subscribers exceeded one million and the airways were crowded. During that time, three ways of improving services existed: (1) increase frequencies allocation; (2) split existing cells and (3) improve the technology.

1988- The Cellular Technology Industry Association (CTIA) was established to work with the cellular service operators and researchers to identify new technology requirements and set goals.

1991-The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) created a standard specification based on the requirements the CTIA had recommended. The TDMA Interim Standard 54 or TDMA IS-54 was released.

1992- Neil Papworth successfully sends the first text message (from a PC) "Merry Christmas" to Richard Jarvis at Vodaphone

1992- The IBM Simon Personal Communicator ( the world's very first smartphone) is introduced.

1994- Inventor Andre Gray invents ringtones & ringbacks along with the SYNC Programming Language (world's very first downloadable app & ringtones programming language) for his IBM Simon Cell Phone.

1994- TDMA IS-136 uses the frequency bands available to the wireless network and divides them into time slots with each phone user having access to one time slot at regular intervals.

1998- Inventor Andre Gray forever transform the cell phone from a mere communications device into a multimedia/entertainment device when he invents Microgrooves Electronic ( the world's first multimedia player app that allows cell phones to play entire songs/albums, show videos and record & playback both audio and video).

1999- Research In Motion (RIM) introduced the BlackBerry 850.

2006- On December 12, 2006 ,LG Electronics introduces the LG KE850, or LG Prada, a touchscreen mobile smartphone. It remains the most influential mobile design ever.

2007- On June 29th, 2007, Apple releases the first iphone, which has a striking resemblance to the LG Prada...and the rest is history!