The history of the wireless telephone first began in 1895 when Guglielmo Marconi sent the first wireless message. This message was far from what we think of today as a wireless message. It was sent in morse code, the transmission of telegraphic information by using short and long sequences to represent letters and numerals. But none the less it is considered the first message sent using wireless technology. Wireless technology spread when “The Detroit police department installed the first land mobile radio telephone systems for police car dispatch in the year 1921.” (Farley). This technology was similar to the paging systems that are used today. The police officer could receive a one- way transmission from the station but then would have to find a wire-line station in order to communicate back with the control center. The first “real” cell phone call was not made until 1973, when a man named Martin Cooper invented the first portable handset. This wasn’t a cellular telephone as we know it today. It looked like a brick and weighed about 30 ounces. However, it did enable Cooper to make the first “cell phone” call, a call that was made while he was walking around or not standing in one fixed location. The next step in wireless communication was in 1982 when cell phone service in the U.S. was authorized by the FCC for commercial use. Then in the following year, Chicago implemented the first experimental telephone system AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) which was made available through Ameritech.
It is estimated today that over one billion cell phone calls are made each day in the United States. There is over a 60 percent penetration rate. Of the families that have cell phones, most have more than one phone, generally allocating one for each family member. According to Robert T. Craig in the Communication Monographs, “a recent study found that 20% of people on a university campus were using personal mobile devices such as cell phones or music players at any given time” (Craig). Each year people use up more and more cell phone minutes and some families are even discontinuing service from land line distributors and only holding service through a cell phone provider.
Cell phones operate based on the Cellular Concept. This is the concept that geographic regions are divided into different cells. A cell is defined as an area that is served by a single cell phone antenna. Each antenna or tower propagates its signal through frequency modulation, where each tower works on a different ultra high frequency (UHF). People do not always stay in the same area or cell though, so when they travel from one cell to the next they are then “handed off” to the next cell which operates under its own antenna and provides service for that particular area. There are three different types of these cells built, each with its own distinct function. A Macro Cell operates on very high power and therefore serves a very large area (10-30 miles). The next type of cell is a Micro cell. This cell operates under moderate power and consequently serves a smaller area (1 mile or less). These types of cells are generally built along the side of large highways, usually in areas without many houses that need service, but for the use of people driving cars that need cell service. The final type of cell is a Pico Cell. The Pico Cell is low power, usually just enough to cover one building. This is for largely populated areas or corporations that feel they have so many people working that they need their own tower to handle all of the cell calls made. These cells and towers work in connection with the land-based cellular network. The way this network works, all wireless calls are sent first to the nearest antenna. From there the individual antennas are connected to a Mobile Telephone Switching office (MTSO) through land lines. After this the switching offices are routed to the other MTSO’S antennas and from there to the mobile consumer. For a long distance call the same first steps are taken but instead of going to a MTSO tower the MTSO itself is connected to the Long Distance Telephone Company (IXCS) and from there to a fiber to the feeder network to the LECS or the Local Exchange carriers.
Different levels of technology are classified by different generations. The first cell phones in use were classified as 1G or first generation. These phones were very bulky and did not carry very good reception. They operated under the low UHF range somewhere from 800-900 MHz. With the advancement of technology came the 2G or second generation cell phones. These phones used circuit switching to transmit calls and operated under higher UHF on the 2 GHz band. Both generations used analog voice transmission but had a digital component. Next, the 2.5G technology was created but these were only interim standards and were not widely used by companies. These phones offered a faster 384 kb/s with some internet accessibility but not the real internet that we think of today. When we think of cell phones today we most likely think of phones in the third generation or 3G phones. These phones use packet-switching to transmit data at a faster 2 mb/s. This technology allows for low definition video and a phone that can operate even in different countries unlike the 2.5G. The next major jump in technology will be to the 4G phone. This phone doesn’t exist yet but when created is said to be the ultimate convergence device. The 4G will replace the function of the telephone, computer, HDTV and radio by putting all of these options in one single device. Right now this is just the technology of the future but soon watching HDTV while riding the bus to school won’t just be a dream.
References:
Bells, Mary. (2007) Selling the Cell Phone. About Inc. A part of the NEW York Times Company. Web site: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa070899.htm
Craig, Robert T. “Issue forum introduction: Mobile media and communication: What are the important questions?.” Communication Monographs, v. 74 issue 3, 2007, p. 386-388. Web site:
http://olc3.ohiolink.edu:20080/bin/gate.exe?f=doc&state=i31n59.5.5
Farley, Tom. Telephone History. Sacramento, California, USA. Web site: http://www.privateline.com/PCS/history4.htm
