The first mobile phone was developed in 1973 by Motorola and was used primarily by the military and wealthy businessmen. The first commercial mobile phone was released in 1983 by Motorola, with a price tag of $3,995. Since then the mobile phone industry has evolved rapidly since then, with new technologies and features added yearly. The nineties is the starting point of the evolution of the mobile phone market.
In the early 1990s, mobile phones were primarily used by business professionals and other individuals who needed to stay connected while on the go. These early mobile phones were relatively large and bulky, with limited battery life and network coverage.
As mobile phone technology improved throughout the decade, mobile phones became smaller, more affordable, and more widely available. By the late 1990s, mobile phones had become a mainstream consumer technology, and they were used for a wide range of purposes, including voice calls, text messaging, and mobile internet browsing.
What is The First Smartphone?
The first smartphone is widely considered to be the IBM Simon, which was introduced in 1993. The IBM Simon had a touchscreen, could send and receive faxes and emails and had basic PDA functionality like a calendar and address book. However, it was not yet called a "smartphone" at the time of its release.
Another early contender for the title of the first smartphone is the Nokia Communicator, which was released in 1996. The Nokia Communicator had a full keyboard, could send and receive faxes and emails and had basic PDA functionality like a calendar and address book. The IBM Simon and Nokia Communicator were revolutionary for their time and paved the way for our modern smartphones.
How Many Mobile Phone Sold Till 2023
It is difficult to provide the exact number of mobile phones created until today, as new models are released yearly, and older models are retired from production. Mass production and widespread use of mobile phones occurred in the nineties. However, it is estimated that over 14 billion mobile phones have been sold worldwide since the first mobile phone was invented in 1973.
The number of mobile phones in use is also difficult to determine, as many people own more than one phone, and some phones are discarded or recycled after a few years. According to a report by GSMA Intelligence, there were nearly 5.5 billion unique mobile phone users worldwide as of 2023.
As the mobile phone market continues to grow and evolve, the number of mobile phones created and in use is expected to increase.
Most Popular Mobile Phone Brands 1990 to 2023
1990 - 2000
Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, Samsung, Siemens
During this decade, Nokia was the undisputed leader in the mobile phone market, with a market share of around 40%. Motorola and Ericsson were the other major players in the market.
2000 - 2010
Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericsson
Nokia dominated the mobile phone market during this decade, but its market share declined. Samsung emerged as a strong contender during this decade and became the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world.
2010 - 2020
Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo
Samsung emerged as the clear leader in the mobile phone market during this decade, with a market share of around 20%. Apple emerged as a strong competitor during this decade with the launch of its iPhone series. Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo also emerged as major players in the market during this decade.
2020 - 2023
Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo
Samsung continued to dominate the mobile phone market in the first two years of this decade, with a market share of around 20%. Apple remained a strong competitor, but Xiaomi emerged as a strong challenger during this period. Oppo and Vivo also emerged as major players in the market during this period.
The Evolution of Mobile Phones
1G Phones
The first generation of mobile phones, called " brick phones, " was introduced in the 1980s, called "brick phones." These phones were very bulky and only allowed voice calls. They had limited battery life and were very expensive.
2G Phones
The second generation of mobile phones was introduced in the 1990s and allowed for text messaging and voice calls. These phones were smaller and more affordable than 1G phones. Nokia was the leading manufacturer of 2G phones during this era.
3G Phones
The third generation of mobile phones was introduced in the early 2000s and allowed for data transfer in addition to voice calls and text messaging. These phones were more advanced than previous generations and allowed for the use of mobile internet and video calls. Apple launched its first iPhone in 2007, which revolutionized the smartphone market.
4G Phones
The fourth generation of mobile phones was introduced in the late 2000s and allowed for faster data transfer, making mobile internet usage much smoother. These phones also had better battery life and more advanced features, such as improved camera quality.
5G Phones
The fifth generation of mobile phones was introduced in 2019 and could further revolutionize the industry. 5G phones are expected to have faster data transfer speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously.
Future of Mobile Phones
The future of mobile phones is very exciting. With the advent of 5G technology, we can expect more advanced features, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, to become commonplace. Mobile phones will continue to become more advanced regarding camera quality, battery life, and overall performance.
Conclusion
The mobile phone industry has come a long way since its inception in 1993. Each generation has added new features and technologies, making mobile phones more powerful and versatile. The introduction of 5G technology promises to take mobile phones to the next level. As the mobile phone industry continues to evolve, we can expect more exciting developments in the future.
Written by: Aykut Alan
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