Mobile phones in the 2000s

Any type of handheld telephone that is not directly connected to a land line and uses radio waves for transmission. Also known as a cellular (“cell”) phone.

In the years between 2000 and 2009, significant technological advances were made in the development of mobile phones and their programming, features, and capabilities. Consumer use and dependence on cell phones also increased dramatically during the decade. With the increased use of cell phones by more and more people, numerous states throughout the country enacted legislation regulating the use of cell phones while driving.

The first portable telephone was created by Dr. Martin Cooper in 1973 when his company, Motorola, and their competition, Bell Labs, were competing to create and market the new technology. One of original mobile phones available to the public was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, released in 1983. It is considered the first generation of modern-day cell phones. The phone weighed almost two pounds, was thirteen inches tall, and was able to make and receive calls but did not have other features that today are considered standard. The phone could store up to thirty phone numbers, and although it held a charge for one hour, it took ten hours to recharge. The retail price in 1983 was $3,500.

The 1990s, which is considered the second generation of cell-phone technology, brought more streamlined and compact mobile phones. In 1996, Motorola released the StarTAC, which could easily fit in a pocket and was the first clamshell, or “flip phone” device. Its design included a hinge that required users to “flip” it open, much like a clam opens its shell, in order to make and receive calls. By 1999, most new cell phones were engineered to fit easily in a user’s hand and came with the antenna inside the phone’s case. Prior to this, antennas were connected to the outside of the phone. These external antennas were an average of seven inches long and were prone to breaking when extended to their full length.

Technology Innovations

Third generation (3G) cell phones that were produced during the 2000s saw dramatic increases in memory storage capabilities, battery life, available features, and design options; as a result, cell-phone use by consumers also increased markedly. In 2001, for example, one out of ten people worldwide owned a cell phone; by 2009, six out of ten people owned cell phones.

The first touchscreen phone was unveiled in 2000 by Motorola. The technology was limited at the time, and the display was only available in black-and-white, but it was immensely popular and introduced consumers to the technology that would be commonplace on cell phones and many other electronic devices and applications.

In 2001, the Sharp Corporation introduced the first commercially available camera phone. Although it was difficult to buy outside of Japan, the Sanyo 5300 from Sprint, introduced in 2002, was the first camera phone sold in North America. That same year, Sony introduced the Ericsson T68i, which was equipped with limited Internet capabilities. Also in 2002, the Danger Hiptop (later purchased by T-Mobile and rebranded as the T-Mobile Sidekick) was released to the public and became an immediate hit mainly for its ability to continuously maintain an Internet connection. It was one of the first phones to offer a full Internet browsing experience with integrated instant messaging, and with its full QWERTY keyboard, the Hiptop/Sidekick was one of the best-selling phones among the hearing impaired.

A drawback to the added technology of the 2000s was that cell phones became increasingly fragile. Complex internal computers were often damaged beyond repair after a phone was dropped or mishandled. Cell phone manufacturers soon tried to introduce phones that were designed with tougher cases to help safeguard the devices. Colorful cases and snap-on protectors were also marketed around this time to provide added protection while also giving consumers a sense that they were customizing or accessorizing their cell phones.

Smartphones

A smartphone is any cell phone that includes software functions such as e-mail or Internet browsing. The first smartphone was developed in 1997, but it was not until several years later that the technology was widely available to all consumers. The Kyocera QCP6035, introduced in 2001, was the first mainstream, palm-sized phone and retailed between $400 and $500. In 2002, the Blackberry 5810, which allowed users to receive e-mail and surf the Internet, was launched. The drawback of this phone was that users needed to plug in a headset in order to talk, which kept the 5810 from gaining popularity. The following year, the TREO 600 was released by Palm, and it allowed users to access programs that previously could only be used on a computer. Its increased memory and processing power made it popular for a time, but by 2007, Apple would introduce its breakthrough in mobile phone technology, and the face of the industry was once again changed.

The iPhone

In 2007, Steve Jobs, cofounder and CEO of Apple, Inc., launched a new touchscreen smartphone—the Apple iPhone. Essentially a small, handheld computer that also made phone calls, the iPhone was the second generation of its kind, but this newer model utilized the 3G technology and was the first iPhone to be available outside of the United States. The iPhone 3G included such advanced features as built-in GPS; a multitasking platform that allowed the user to make a call, check e-mail, or get directions at the same time; sync technology for e-mail and calendar; encryption ability to access corporate data; and the Internet browser Safari. Possibly the most industry-altering feature was the introduction of the new App (application) Store, which allowed users to browse and purchase programs to load onto their new iPhones and then access with a touch of a finger. Competitors quickly launched the Android, or “droid,” platform, available on many types of phones, but programming bugs that were never thoroughly resolved by the end of the decade stalled any major user share that droid phones could have over iPhones. Droid phones did come equipped with an app store, however, which generated a new facet of the mobile phone industry: companies whose sole purpose was to create new applications to sell to consumers. Applications for everything from history databases to the latest online game sensation could be purchased by consumers for use on their phones.

Manufacturers and Providers

Major advances in mobile phone technology during the 2000s, coupled with the accelerated growth in popularity and use by consumers, forced cell phone manufacturers to constantly offer new and exciting features and designs in order to retain or surpass their market share in the industry. The most common manufacturers during the decade were Apple, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung. Most of these companies did not sell their phones directly to consumers, however, so middlemen, referred to as cell phone providers, marketed and sold products to the public. In order to purchase a phone, a user had to also contract with the provider for a predetermined time period (usually two years) or face a heavy fee-based penalty. As cell phones gained in popularity throughout the decade with the added capabilities and features, price wars were common among providers as they tried to lure consumers to sign their contracts by offering discounts on text messaging, international calling, and bundled packages that offered discounts to families who bought and used several cell phones on the same provider plan.

Legislation

With a growing number of cell phone–related accidents throughout the decade, individual states created and implemented legislation that would impose various penalties for using a cell phone while driving. In 2001, New York was the first state to enact legislation making it illegal for a driver to use a handheld phone. Hands-free phone use, utilizing the speaker or earpiece feature of a phone, while driving was allowed, however, and New York’s law became the basis of other laws that were written and enforced across the country. Several states also enacted stricter legislation that banned any use of a mobile phone while driving, including hands-free phones.

In September of 2004, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Cell Phone Recycling Act that required all cell-phone providers to accept and then recycle unwanted or unusable cell phones. The law, which was implemented in July of 2006, also stipulated that the recycling of old phone would be at no cost to the consumer.

Impact

Thanks in large part to the technological advancements made in the mobile phone industry during the 2000s, mobile phones have changed the way that people worldwide interact with one another. Individuals are more connected with each other than ever before, which has created debates that are continuing well into the next decade on the benefits and drawbacks of this byproduct of cell phone technology. Cell phones have developed so that their use includes the almost instant ability to access entertainment, emergency personnel, friends and loved ones, bank accounts, online information, navigation tools, current events, and any mobile application imaginable. Many continue to debate, however, about the potential health risks from possible radiation that cell phones produce. With the mobile phone industry’s ability to continually create smaller and more advanced computer chips and processors, other industries have benefited. A more innovative society is better able to enhance the quality of life of its residents, but only if individuals remain cognizant of the dangers that can come alongside the benefits of technology.

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