The Evolution of Cell Phone Design Between 1983-2009

Webdesigner Depot: The Evolution of Cell Phone Design Between 1983-2009  (HT: Carpe Diem)

Cell phones have evolved immensely since 1983, both in design and function.

From the Motorola DynaTAC, that power symbol that Michael Douglas wielded so forcefully in the movie “Wall Street”, to the iPhone 3G, which can take a picture, play a video, or run one of the thousands applications available from the Apple Store.

There are thousands of models of cell phones that have hit the streets between 1983 and now.

We’ve picked a few of the more popular and unusual ones to take you through the history of this device that most of us consider a part of our everyday lives.

We have tried, wherever possible, to include the most popular phones and the phones that were “firsts” for a particular feature, but may have missed out on your favorite phones due to the sheer number of models that are out there.

We invite you to post your faves in the comments section if they are not listed here.

Mobile phones are just now beginning to be as vital to North Americans as they have been to Asians. You can always see what is coming to store shelves in the next six months to a year by looking at the models that are currently available in Japan.

North America also had a spotty 3G network that has only really been revamped recently in order to deal with increasing demands for faster loading speeds from mobile customers, whereas Asia and most of Europe have had proper 3G networks in place for some time.

This has led to a revolution in 3G phones from 2007 until now, with more due to come out in 2009.

The list does not include any phones that were not portable handhelds. Car phones and some handhelds that were the size of a small briefcase were in use in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but since this is more about design than function we chose not to include them here. ...

Here is the first entry. Go to the link to see the rest:

Comments

[Brad]

This was pretty interesting, and some great pictures of the phones.

[Austin]

Thank you so much for posting this. I have a really hard time with choosing the right mobile phone for myself. This helped a bit.

[Michael W. Kruse]

I loved the pics too. However, none of these phones were as cool as my c. 1975 CB walkie-talkies. :-) I saved up and bought them when I was in high school.

[ceemac]

They mentioned one of the phones was used in the Matrix.

I think you were on one of the Easum listservs back in the 90's.

Do you remember how several of the folks on that list thought that the workd had changed with the release of the movie and the church was never going to be the same.

I still haven't seen the movie but as far as I can tell it didn't work out that way.

[ceemac]

that would be world not workd

[Michael W. Kruse]

I was on the Easum listserv for a couple of years about 5 or 6 years ago. You have the memory of an Elephant. :-)

I don't remember conversations about the Matrix, although I've see all three and I think the first was the best.

I suspect the Matrix was articulating what was already in the culture, not redefining it.

[Cellular Motorola Philippine Phone]

Thanks for the information. Those photos is a great design and it is great property also. I’ve been reading along I will be reading more of your posts in the future. Keep it up!

Bruce Yuan