Source: Own Illustration
Welcome to the third part of our IT journey through time! This time, we’ll trace the rapid evolution of the portable phone—from a suitcase-sized device weighing several kilograms, to the “brick” that fit in your hand, all the way to today’s smartphone, which combines a camera, navigation device, media player, and powerful mini-computer all in one.
The Suitcase Phone: Portable, but With Limitations
“Portable” was a very elastic term in the late 1980s. The 1988 Siemens C2 portable, for example, was about 29 centimeters wide, 32 centimeters tall, and 14 centimeters deep. With the antenna extended, it reached a height of nearly 57 centimeters—and weighing around seven kilograms, making a call on the go turned into a real strength-training workout.
The case was by no means just packaging: it housed the battery as well as the transmission and reception technology; the handset and antenna were also included in the package. The device didn’t need a phone jack. Instead, it transmitted via the Deutsche Bundespost’s analog C-network to a base station, which routed the call to the landline network. A charged battery and sufficient network reception were always required.
The “Bone”: The Phone Fits in Your Hand
With the “Bone,” the case could stay at home—but the phone was still far from being a true lightweight in 1992. The Motorola International 3200 weighed about half a kilogram and, with its antenna, was well over 30 centimeters long. The battery and radio technology were now fully integrated into the handset, so that only one hand was needed to make a call—at least a strong one.
The International 3200 was one of the first cell phones for the new digital GSM networks D1 and D2 in Germany. Its range of functions, however, remained limited: making and receiving calls. The “Bone” couldn’t even handle text messages yet.
GSM: The Cell Phone Becomes Suitable for Everyday Use
The “brick” already transmitted digitally, but in the years that followed, the devices shrank rapidly in size, weight, and price. Around the turn of the millennium, a typical cell phone often weighed only about 100 grams and fit comfortably in any pants pocket.
The Nokia 3310, released in 2000, became the symbol of this generation. The long, visible antenna had been hidden inside the case, and for the first time, users could comfortably read and write text messages on the monochrome display. The SIM card also made the mobile connection independent of the specific device. Ringtones, interchangeable back covers, and games like “Snake II” turned the cell phone into a personal everyday item—backed by a proverbial ruggedness that still resonates today.
Camera, Flip, Keyboard: The Cell Phone Keeps Evolving
Around the turn of the millennium, the world of mobile phones became significantly more diverse. Devices flipped open, slid together, or featured full QWERTZ keyboards, all while continuously acquiring new functions.
As early as 1996, the Nokia 9000 Communicator combined a full-size keyboard with email and internet capabilities. In 1999, one of the first commercially available camera phones, the Kyocera VP-210, hit the market in Japan, while the Nokia 7650 made the built-in camera popular in this country in 2002—with a modest resolution of 640 × 480 pixels, which could be sent directly via MMS.
At the same time, mobile productivity came into focus: The BlackBerry 5810 (2002) combined email, the Internet, and a phone, while slider and flip phones like the ultra-slim Motorola RAZR V3 (2004) became true design icons. Entertainment, photography, and communication developed in parallel and would soon merge into the smartphone.
The Smartphone: Everything in One Device
In 2007, Apple introduced the first iPhone. Although smartphones had existed before, the large multitouch screen and intuitive finger-based operation shaped the form we know today. Physical buttons gave way almost entirely to flat touchscreens.
At the same time, Android was gaining momentum: In 2008, the HTC Dream became the first commercially available Android smartphone. That same year, Apple’s App Store and the Android Market opened up entirely new possibilities, as games, messaging apps, navigation, and banking could now be easily added. The phone had finally evolved into a universal platform.
Since then, the individual features have been perfected: multiple sophisticated camera lenses have long since replaced separate digital cameras; super-fast standards like 5G and satellite communication ensure global connectivity; and modern AI assistants intelligently support us in our daily lives.
Responsible for the content of this article is Maike Lennartz.
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