Cell phones have become ubiquitous today, and most of us don’t even have to go more than a few hours without checking our mobile devices. But did you know that cell phones didn’t always exist? This article details the brief history of cell phones in South Africa and shows how technology has evolved over time.
Origins (1960-1980)
The first cell phone to be introduced to South African consumers was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. It was launched in 1984 and cost a whopping $3,995 (approximately $10,000). In 1985, Motorola followed up with the 9800X model costing $1,995 (roughly $4,000), which is considered to be one of the most expensive cell phones ever released. However, these prices were not competitive for the African market; this prompted Motorola and other manufacturers to lower prices dramatically.
The rise of cellular mobile networks (1984-1990)
In 1984, NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone launched the first mobile cellular network in Japan). In 1987, the Personal Communications Services (PCS) digital cellular system was introduced as a second-generation system. In 1990, this technology was introduced in Europe and North America.
The mobile revolution (1991-)
The mobile revolution started off with the introduction of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) by Apple in early 1991. These devices were bulky and expensive. In 1993, the first modern hand-held device was introduced by IBM. It was called Simon and sold for $800, with a contract from Bell Atlantic Mobile. The device used a stylus for input and could send messages through text messaging service providers such as Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless Services or Rogers Wireless.
