There’s never a shortage of new handsets looking to entice you away from that old faithful in your trouser pocket. Whether it’s a foldable or a clamshell, a flagship or an entry-level model, there’s always something shiny out there waiting to steal your heart.
Almost 40 years ago, Motorola’s Martin Cooper made the first cell phone call from portable digital technology. While the concept of smartphones wouldn’t become a reality for another decade, this development was a big step in mobile communications and digital technology.
In 1998, Nokia released the 7110 hand-held mobile phone, a major breakthrough in multi-functionality. It was the first tri-band GSM phone, allowing users to roam around the world with no need for a local SIM. More importantly, it was the first phone to come with a WAP browser – the precursor to today’s smartphone apps. This allowed users to make and receive web-based calls, access the internet and send text messages.
In 2007 Apple’s iPhone debuted. While the CEO of Nokia at the time confidently dismissed it as a ‘cool phone’ that wouldn’t translate column inches into market share, the iPhone proved him wrong and kicked off an era of smartphone releases like never before.