From bricks to smartphones: A 70‑year mobile evolution
Although the first mobile phones resembled a brick and weighed 40 kilograms, no one could have predicted that in the next 70 years, people would create smaller and lighter devices without which it would be hard to start the day. The creator of the first cellphone was inspired by the communicator from "Star Trek".
It's hard to imagine not just a day, but even an hour without a smartphone. It's no longer just a device for calling like before, but our little "management" centre: sending messages, browsing the Internet, paying for shopping, making transfers, ordering food, or using Uber. Not to mention taking and watching photos, videos, or listening to music. Over time, phones have become an extension of our hands.
The first cellphones only for businessmen and the wealthy
What has remained unchanged is that they have always been tools that help to break down barriers — both technological and social. Mobile phones have undergone a true evolution: from expensive, large devices that served only a small group of businessmen, to widespread, affordable smartphones that are in the hands of almost all of us today.
The history of mobile phones begins in the 1940s and 50s, when the first prototypes were being developed, such as the massive "suitcase" by Ericsson in 1956, weighing over 40 kilograms, which at the time was valued at the price of a car. A breakthrough occurred in 1973, when Motorola unveiled the DynaTAC, the first portable mobile phone. It was invented by Martin Cooper, who is now 97 years old, and was then the director of the Motorola division responsible for research and development. He is today considered the father of mobile telephony. Years later, he admitted that the inspiration for creating this phone was the communicator of Captain Kirk from the series "Star Trek".
The DynaTAC 8000X model went on sale only 10 years later. It was a huge, heavy phone that resembled more of a brick with an antenna than a contemporary portable device. Calls were expensive, and the range was limited to a few urban areas. The battery lasted for half an hour of talk time, while the maximum standby time was eight hours. It cost around CAD 5,600, and its use was reserved mainly for businessmen and the wealthiest individuals.
The first keypad phones, SMS, touchscreen smartphone
In the 1980s and 90s, mobile telephony developed rapidly. Phones became smaller, more accessible, and cheaper, allowing for their mass popularization. Finally, the first phones with a keypad appeared—simple but functional devices that allowed not only for calls but also for sending text messages (SMS). The GSM network was introduced, and the Nokia 1011 appeared on the market. In 1992, the first SMS was sent, and in 1993, IBM introduced the first smartphone, IBM Simon.
The era of mobile phones was in full swing in the year 2000, when devices appeared that not only offered basic communication functions but also allowed for simple games, calendars, and contacts. Phones with colour displays, more advanced operating systems, and multimedia capabilities dominated the market.
In 2007, Apple launched the first iPhone—a revolutionary touchscreen smartphone that set the direction for the development of modern phones. It combined a phone, camera, personal computer, and multimedia player into one device. Smartphones became not only tools for communication but also fully-fledged mobile computers that enabled access to the internet, emails, apps, and social media.
Today we can call even in space
Today, in 2025, mobile phones are widely available, enabling activities that their creator couldn't even dream of, like video calls or calling to Earth's orbit via the Internet. And they are much cheaper than 70 years ago.
Cellphones have become more than just communication tools—they are real "magical" devices that change our lives, helping to break barriers both in communication and in access to information and new experiences. Thanks to these technologies, we can easily keep in touch with loved ones, work remotely, and also take advantage of educational and professional opportunities, regardless of location in the world.
