How Mobile Phones Have Developed Over Time
Few industries can boast the advancements we have witnessed in the mobile phone sector over the last 20 years. If we look at the timeline for mobile phones, smartphones were the equivalent of the first colour television; the difference between smartphones and the first generation of mobile phones in the 1990s was incredible.
In a few years, mobile phones went from clunky Nokia 3310 designs to flip phones with integrated cameras to smartphones with internet connectivity and App stores. Fast forward to the modern era, and we have phones where we can video call anybody else no matter where they are in the world.
With so much money exploding out of the industry in the 21st Century, the pressure to find the next significant innovation in the mobile industry is enormous. Mobile phone companies are not just providing a platform for crypto gambling companies. Still, they’re one of the most compelling examples of how a company utilizes technology to its full effect.
A Timeline of The World’s Biggest Innovations
The first mobile phone was designed in 1973 by a true industry pioneer, Martin Cooper. His Motorola DynaTAC was the first ever phone created and kickstarted a race between corporations, some of which are household names we still see today.
The 1990s was the year that the true potential of mobile phones became apparent to some of the world’s most outstanding engineers and designers. For example, the first SMS message was sent successfully in 1992, and an IBM engineer created the device. However, retail customers were unable to purchase one for two years.
Credit – https://pixabay.com/photos/phone-vintage-communication-6609531/
When Sony Ericsson released the GS88 in 1997, it set the bar exceptionally high. The GS88 was the first phone, where users could play games on the move. However, they were much more basic than today’s sophisticated games, which cover fully immersive worlds and high-level strategy levels, such as League Of Legends, and other hugely popular types of gaming, such as innovative live casino, offering classic casino games with a professional live dealer.
Cameras were introduced to phones in the early 21st Century, and Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, one of the most groundbreaking technological creations ever.
Will Apple Spearhead the Next Big Innovation?
When Steve Jobs unveiled the initial iPhone over 15 years ago, even he would have been surprised at just how much it sent Apple’s valuation into the stratosphere. Although it’s not solely responsible, the iPhone and the following versions, which have continued to push boundaries, have generated trillions of dollars in revenue over the last decade.
Of course, additional innovations, such as the iPad and AirPodshave played a considerable role in keeping the money machine printing for the colossal California-based tech company.
However, the tech sector has finally begun to show signs that it isn’t as invincible as everybody thought. As a result, companies are beginning to retract in size and laying off workers in their thousands; it has left engineers, designers, and mobile phone developers scrambling for the next significant innovation to save the tech sector from retracting further.
Although Apple sits at the top of this tree, it won’t necessarily be the next company to generate vast amounts of money. This sector has dozens of prominent innovators, all with multi-billion-dollar turnovers. With such market competition, these companies are incredibly eager to challenge Apple for dominance in the industry.
Conclusion
So, what’s next for the mobile phone industry? Nobody can say what will be the next idea to take off in this sector. The possibilities seem endless, with many designers working on several big ideas, such as entirely wireless charging ports, gaming functionalities, foldable, stretchable screens, and crystal, see-through designs.
Given that there are now billions of mobile phones, it’s impossible to pinpoint precisely how many people own one worldwide, but the number is believed to be well over five billion. This number will likely grow to six billion within the next ten years, so the market is there. It’s just whether these knowledgeable and creative phone designers can channel into the niche.
Longer battery life is one of the key things consumers highlight as an area where they would like to see more development. In addition, many focus groups have pointed out that the weight of a phone and the design are both crucial components.
Maybe the next big market in the mobile phone sector won’t even revolve around innovations, but it might revert to doing the basics well. Phones with better battery life, sleeker design, and easier to carry might start to outsell those with new functions and unique features. While it might all sound a bit Hollywood, and we know some unique designs have been relegated to the history books, mobile phones could also be replaced in 25/30 years by VR headsets.