The History Of Mobile Phones, And My Exciting Adventures Since 2001

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In this article, I dive into the general history of mobile phones by telling the story of my own personal history – which is a rich one for that matter. Since 2001 when I first used a mobile phone till date, I have used about 300 different models, including Motorolas, Nokias, Ericssons, Sonys, Sony Ericssons, Siemens, Alcatels, Sendo, Trium, Sagems, BlackBerrys, BQ, Wiko, iPhones, Samsungs, Xiaomis, TECNOs, itels, Microsoft Lumias , Google Pixels, and most recently a OnePlus.

While there had been attempts at making pocket-sized, handheld telephones since as far back as 1917, the first one was not produced till 1973, and Motorola (an American company back then) was the first at it. On April 3, 1973, the first cellular mobile phone call was placed on a Motorola phone. Incidentally, I was born 7 days later. The cell phone was a forerunner and a herald of my impending arrival. I doubt that my parents had any idea that I would one day be called Mister Mobility.

As a mobile phone connoisseur, reviewer, and historian, it is my opinion that the history of mobile phones is best told in terms of generations, with sub-categories in between. You’ve heard of 2G, 3G, , 4G, and 5G. The G standards for generation, so when you say 4G, what you are referring to is the fourth generation of mobile phone technology.

The History of Mobile Phones: First Generation (1G)

I was a child all through the first generation of mobile phones and experienced it only in terms of what I read. From 1979 all the way to 1991, the world went through iterations of making cellular phones usable.

Did you know that Japan was at the forefront of mobile technology for decades? The first generation of cellular technology was launched in 1979 in Tokyo, Japan by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. And the Japanese have had the world’s most advanced mobile networks since then, often outpacing Europe and North America by miles.

The Nordic countries quickly jumped on 1G in 1981, embracing the world of cellular communications, and as we shall see later, tailgating the Japanese for decades. Nordic countries are a group of countries in northern Europe. They include: includes Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. The first 3 are major contributors to mobile phone history.

1G did not get to the US and Canada until 1983. Some will tell you that the first commercially available cellphone was the DynaTAC, but they would be referring to the USA only. Cellphones were already being used in Japan and Europe before that.

What was the period of 1G like? It was pretty much the age of wireless voice communications only. Not that you couldn’t transfer data over a 1G connection, but you’d be frustrated to heaven, down to hell, and back. Cellular technology and networks were new, so quality was poor. It was cutting edge at the time, but it wasn’t anything close to what you enjoy today, in terms of quality.

Pretty much every country in the world has shut down its 1G telephone networks. Except for Russia, where reports say their NMT technology 1G services are still running.

The History of Mobile Phones: Second Generation (2G)

2G is short for second-generation cellular network. 2G cellular networks were commercially launched in Finland by Radiolinja in 1991. As you can imagine, Europe was taking mobile phone technology by the horns and began to chart a course that the rest of the world would embrace. This was the first phase of the history of mobile phones, as the preceding years from 1973 were mostly developmental in nature.

The first mobile phone with internet access was Nokia 9000 Communicator and was launched in 1996. It used CSD. Note that Circuit Switched Data required the phone line to dial into a server to make an Internet connection, so no phone calls can be made or received during an active data session. This was a massive limitation of CSD. The other big limitation was the speed. CSD was slow, limiting users to no more than 9.6 kbit/s. Which was why WAP sites were limited to mostly text. Still, being able to use the Internet on a phone back then was a novelty.

1999 was the defining year for browsing on mobile phones. In Japan, NTT DoCoMo introduced the mobile Web with the first full internet service on mobile phones, and the first mobile-specific web browser, which they called i-Mode. If you ever read up about a phone with i-Mode, it was definitely Japanese. For the first time, people could browse on a mobile phone.

Nokia launched the 7110 (image below), the first regular cell phone with a WAP browser. WAP was much more limited than the i-Mode standard used in Japan, but it was a first step. It was limited to mostly text and the most basic of images – nothing like the advanced Web browsing that you know today.

This was the era that I began to experience mobile phones. My first phone, the Motorola Talkabout T2288 had a WAP browser, and I used it quite a bit. Dial-up Internet was expensive but that couldn’t keep the explorer in me from giving it a go. I went on to use dial-up mobile Internet on more advanced phones like Ericsson R380s, Motorola Accompli A008, and Nokia 9210i Communicator.

GSM went on to be extremely popular and was adopted by almost everyone eventually. In the United States, Qualcomm tried to do things differently, pitching Code-division Multiple Access (CDMA) as an alternative standard for commercial cellular communications. It never gained significant traction outside of the US and Canada. Globally, GSM won the 2G race.

2G was slow for data, though, and everyone likes fast data. In 2000, the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) came up with a layer of packet data that could run on top of GSM networks. It was called General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). It was an extension of 2G technology and so became known as 2.5G. For the first time, mobile users could have an always-on Internet connection.

I remember using GPRS on my Siemens M55 and Samsung C100 phones, among others. This was the era when European mobile phone brands ruled the world. At a time in this era, Nokia had 34% of the global cell phone market. There are also a few highly visible made in America brands. The Nokia Communicators were the most advanced and most powerful mobile phones of this era.

My obsession with everything mobile was total. I got involved in developing mobile-compatible websites that could be accessed on mobile WAP browsers in the early 2000s. I started by learning, and creating WAP sites in, Wireless Markup Language (WML), and kept learning as new standards were released. The above is a photo of one of my WAP 2.0 sites developed using XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language Mobile Profile).

The History of Mobile Phones: Third Generation (3G)

The next phase of the history of mobile phones came to be with the arrival of 3G and packet switch data. Once again, Japan took the lead. In May 2001, the complete move away from circuit switched data (dial-up) to packet data became a reality with the introduction of 3G technology. For the first time, really fast mobile Internet was available on cell phones. Yay!

While 2.5G was fast, 3G did away with the old 2G technology completely to deliver much faster Internet connections over mobile networks. And this third generation was so versatile that it grew into a large family, from Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), which is basic 3G, to High Speed Packet Access – HSPA (3.5G) and Evolved High Speed Packet Access, HSPA+, HSPA Plus, or HSPAP (3.75G), 3G just kept evolving and getting better.

I look back at the 3G era with nostalgia, as far as my personal history of mobile phones is concerned. This was the hey days of Symbian smartphones by Nokia and Sony Ericsson. It was the era of the Motorola RAZR. This was an era of exciting mobile phones and smartphones with a diverse range of form factors – sliders, side sliders, oblong, folders, QWERTY keyboards, and more.

The history of mobile phones is not complete without the mention of the iPhone. The first iPhone was announced in 2007 during the 3G era, but it was a 2G device. 3G was not introduced in the iPhone until June 2008 (iPhone 3G), but I held out till the release of iPhone 3Gs in 2009 before buying my first ever iPhone.

I have not been a huge fan of Apple iPhones, for years. The poor battery life was one of the key reasons. The lack of certain basic functionality, including copy-and-paste of text, and multitasking, in the earliest models was another reason. Since the 3GS, the only other iPhone I have owned was the iPhone 6S. But I am loving the 13 Pro Max , and 2022 might just be the year I have another adventure with Apple.

Likewise, what will an article about the history of cell phones be without a mention of the first Android phone , HTC Dream? It was clunky and not quite beautiful, but it was the forerunner of every Android smartphone in existence today. It arrived in October 2008, a year after the first iPhone.

The History of Mobile Phones: Fourth Generation (4G)

There are two broad 4G (fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology) – WiMAX and LTE (Long-Term evolution). 4G LTE is what the world has gone ahead with, and it was the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden that led the way in 2009.

It was during the 4G era that aptX HD was first seen in mobile phones. The aptX standard was created by Qualcomm to bridge the gap of audio quality over Bluetooth connections. And in 2016, LG G5 became the first mobile phone to have aptX HD . I owned its successor, the LG G6 which also had the technology. Other Blietooth standards and technologies improved greatly as well.

The 4G era was also when China took centre-stage as the top manufacturer of mobile phones in the world. Because of economies of scale, almost every cell phone brand now manufactures all or part of its products in China. And so, the era of made in China phones was born. Not only that, Chinese smartphone brands took the world by storm, such that it became difficult to find non-Chinese smartphones in the market.

With the arrival of 4G LTE came the question of whether you can upgrade your 3G phone to 4G . If you are wondering about it, you can click that link to go read the detailed explanation, if you want to, but the summary is that a conversion, while feasible, is mostly impractical. Just go buy a 4G smartphone and ditch your old 3G phone.

As for the 4G phones I have used, let’s just say they are too many to list. My favourite models include: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro, and TECNO Camon 18 Premier.

The History of Mobile Phones: Fifth Generation (5G)

The next era of mobile phone history is that of 5G . Fifth generation mobile networks began to be deployed in 2019, the first being in South Korea. The technology has picked up pace. 5G networks are being rolled out on every continent. As with previous generational shifts, 5G technology comes with faster Internet speeds. With a 5G phone, you will enjoy much better and much faster mobile Internet.

It is still early days with the fifth generation of mobile technology, and the only 5G smartphone I have used so far is Google Pixel 5a 5G. I have a few others I am considering and will be continuing my adventures with mobile phones. OnePlus Nord 2 5G had my attention earlier, but I am not a fan of the UI games that the brand has been playing in recent times. I should be excited about Google Pixel 6 phones, but I am not.

My history of mobile phones has been mostly exciting, but every now and then, I can’t seem to find a device that really excites me. I am not quite sure what Android 5G phone I’d really love to use next, at this time. I might wake up tomorrow and be sure, though. One of the questions people are asking today is if it is possible to convert or upgrade their 4G phones to 5G . Technically, it is possible, but just go buy a new 5G smartphone; right?

Will we get souped up versions of 5G, like 5G Advanced, 5.5G or 5.75G or 5.9G, or the like? Looking back at how 3G and 4G evolved, chances are that we will. Each evolution will bring faster speeds and some other improvements. There is no end to our need for speed. We are only about 3 years into 5G services, and so there is room for lots of improvements and enhancements.

The History of Mobile Phones: Sixth Generation (6G)

We are not done yet with 5G, but work on 6G, the sixth generation of mobile technology, is already under way. Some countries, like China, have already tested 6G technologies. It is too early to have any details of the technicalities, but as always, it will involve better capacity and faster speeds. The human desire for speed is insatiable, after all. When will 6G networks and smartphones start rolling out? The simple answer is that nobody knows. But I will be here hopping on to it and writing about it when it does.

In closing, it is difficult to list all of the mobile phones that I have used in an article like this, and that isn’t the goal. The goal was to provide you with an enjoyable story that provides details of important points in the history of mobile phones, and I hope I have achieved that. Perhaps I left out a few things that should be mentioned here; if so, please drop me a comment below and I will rectify that. As always, I appreciate your feedback.

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Author:Mister Mobility

Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004

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The successor to the Nord N10, OnePlus Nord N20 5G, is headed to the US market and looking like it is custom-fitted to take on the competition there. If you loved the Nord N10 and N100, you will likely love this new kid on the block. And if you are looking to get a budget phone on T-Mobile or MetroPCS this year, you should consider getting the Nord N20.

In 2021, OnePlus Nord phones, Nord N10 and Nord N100 , sold over 2.5 million units in the United States alone. These two budget smartphones were available on T-Mobile and MetroPCS, and sold like hot cakes. If you were the decision makers at OnePlus, what would you do? We bet it is to double down on that success and get more phones sold this year.

The OnePlus Nord line has been a best-seller at T-Mobile and MetroPCS since the Nord N10 and Nord N100 hit shelves in February 2021.

Let’s have a look at the detailed specifications, features, and information about the Nord N20.

• OnePlus Nord N20 5G specifications Is OnePlus Nord N20 a 5G phone? is OnePlus Nord N20 battery removable? Is OnePlus Nord N20 good for gaming? Does OnePlus Nord N20 support OTG? OnePlus Nord N20 Price: How much is OnePlus Nord N20? Does OnePlus Nord N20 have Google Play Store? OnePlus Nord N20 vs Nord N10: Compare

OnePlus Nord N20 5G specifications

Mobile Wireless Network and Software

• 2G mobile network bands : GSM, GPRS, EDGE 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz. CDMA 800 / 1900
• 3G mobile network bands : UMTS, WCDMA, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 MHz
• 4G mobile network bands : LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71.
• 5G mobile network bands : SA/NSA 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71
• SIM Type : Nano-SIM, Dual SIM
• Software / OS : OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11

Design, Form Factor, Appearance

• Dimensions : 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm
• Weight : 190g
• Display : 6.43 inches (16.33 centimetres), 1080 x 2400 pixels, 60Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio, AMOLED screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Colours : .
• Physical Build : Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame

Internal Hardware Specs

• Processor Type : 64-bit, 2.3 GHz Octa-core
• Processor Name : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
• Graphics Processor : Adreno 619
• RAM : 6 GB
• Internal Storage : 128 GB
• External Storage : microSD, up to 256 GB (dedicated slot)

Photography, Video Recording

• Main Camera : 48 MP main lens + 2 MP macro lens + 2 MP monochrome lens, autofocus, LED flash, 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps, video recording
• Front Camera : 16 MP, fixed focus, Face Recognition, 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps, video capture

Audio, Video Playback

• Music Support : PCM, AAC / AAC + / eAAC + / MP3 / AMR – NB / WB / APE
• Audio : 3.5 mm audio jack
• Loudspeaker : Stereo speakers
• Video Support : H.264/MP4/MPEG4 player
• FM Radio : No.

Phone Sensors

• Digital Compass : Yes.
• Accelerometer : Yes.
• Proximity Sensor : Yes.
• Ambient Light Sensor : Yes.
• Barometer : No.
• Pedometer : No.
• Heart Rate Monitor : No.
• Gyroscope (G-Sensor) : Yes.
• Fingerprint Scanner : Yes; in-display.
• Face Unlock : Yes.
• Iris Scanner : No.
• Motion Sensing / Gesture Control : No.
• Voice Control : No.
• Intelligent Digital Assistant : Yes; Google Assistant.
• Infra-red Sensor : No.

Connectivity Options

• Bluetooth Version : 5.2
• Bluetooth Profiles : A2DP
• WiFi : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot
• GPS : Yes, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo
• USB : microUSB v2.0. Type-C. USB-OTG.
• NFC : Yes.

Miscellaneous Specs and Features

• Battery Type and Capacity : Non-Removable Lithium-Polymer 4500 mAh
• Battery Charging : 33W SuperVOOC fast charging
• Wireless Charging : No.
• Reverse Charging : No.
• Model Version/Number : BE

Launch/Release Dates and Information

• Announced : April 19, 2022
• Release Date : April 28, 2022
• Price : $282, through T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. Also available unlocked for $299.

Is OnePlus Nord N20 a 5G phone?

OnePlus Nord N20 supports both Standalone and non-standalone 5G networks in the US. It works with the 5G networks of T-Mobile and MetroPCS.

is OnePlus Nord N20 battery removable?

The 45000mAh battery is non-removable and comes with SuperVOOC fast charging.

Is OnePlus Nord N20 good for gaming?

The Snapdragon 695 chipset is a decent mid-range performer, enabling gameplay for most games, including some high-graphics intensive titles.

Does OnePlus Nord N20 support OTG?

With a USB-C port, Nord N20 supports USB On-The-Go, so you can plug in other USB devices and accessories.

OnePlus Nord N20 Price: How much is OnePlus Nord N20?

The Nord N20 retails for $282.

Does OnePlus Nord N20 have Google Play Store?

It supports Google Services and software applications, including Play Store and Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and others.

OnePlus Nord N20 vs Nord N10: Compare

From the specs above, we see that OnePlus Nord N20 5G is more powerful than its predecessor, yet there is a bit of a give-and-take happening here and there. The display is 60Hz AMOLED in place of the N10’s 90Hz LCD. That is a trade-off that we consider fair. We will take the AMOLED display any day. In addition, the 64 MP quad camera at the back of the N10 has been swapped out for a 48 MP dual camera on the N20.

That is a tough one. On paper, the N10 has the more formidable camera specs. But we also know that camera quality is not about the megapixel counts, so the jury is out on this one. If you are coming from the N10 and are particular about the camera, you might want to hold off for the first OnePlus Nord N20 reviews to come out before making a decision.

Both devices are 5G enabled, and since you are likely buying the N20 from T-Mobile or its MVNO, MetroPCS, you are rest assured that it works with their networks.

It is a bummer, though, that OnePlus Nord N20 5G rolls out of the factory with OxygenOS 11 on Android 11. Android 12 has been out for about 6 months now, and it doesn’t make sense that a smartphone of this nature is being released in April 2022 with dated software.

MobilityArena Buyer’s Guide Verdict

Based on the specs alone, OnePlus Nord N20 looks like a compelling budget smartphone and offers more than the competition does. You will be hard-pressed to find an AMOLED screen on a competing budget phone from Samsung, Motorola, or Nokia. Neither will you find fast charging as good as what obtains on the Nord N20.

The in-display fingerprint scanner is also a sweet deal. If you are looking to buy an affordable 5G smartphone this year, you should definitely consider the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. If you would like to see what else is available, have a look at the most affordable budget 5G phones .

Our Buyer’s Guide Verdict is a recommendation based on the specs of the device and a general guide to help you understand how much value a device offers for its price. It is not an endorsement of the device. Ask questions and use your judgement when buying any device; MobilityArena takes no responsibility for your buying decisions .

OnePlus Nord N20 5G Phone Review Rating

We have not yet reviewed the Nord N20 5G, and so do not have a review rating for it yet.

Author:InfoDesk