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The first telephone
The first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
This device consisted of a metal plate fixed on a membrane which was actuated by the voice and vibrated in front of an electromagnet. These vibrations make it possible to produce a variable electric current. The electric current was carried by a cable and transmitted the voice. At the other end of the cable, at the receiver, a device identical to the first reproduced the voice. -
The first Marty
In 1910, the A.O.I.P (Association of Precision Instrument Workers) manufactured the first model of telephone to be equipped with a magneto operated by a small crank to call the operator called the Marty.
It consists of a cubic wooden box, equipped with a magneto with combined microphone capsule and a receiver. A crank on the side allows the operator to be called. Above is the handset consisting of a receiver for listening and a microphone for speaking. -
The first rotary telephone : The PTT24
In the 1920s, the rotary telephone turning at 10 digits (0 to 9) to dial a correspondent's number appears. No more need to contact an operator first. In 1922, a competition was launched to choose a new unique model. The PTT24 (created in 1924, hence its name) was chosen.
Its very sensitive microphone and the fact that it was robust were its two strengths. -
The first touch-tone telephone
In the 1980s, John Karlin Bell Labs invented the telephone with numeric keys which replaced the dial. This new phone turns out to be a real innovation. Indeed, it reduces the risk of dialing errors and allows the automatic dialing of pre-recorded numbers. In addition, the keypad makes it possible to introduce dialing by voice frequencies which increases the dialing speed and offers new services such as call waiting, call transfer, three-way conversation... -
The first cell phone : the DynaTAC 8000x
The very first cell phone was designed and manufactured by the
Professor Martin Cooper, who was director of research and development at Motorola. The first cell phone for sale in the United States appeared as the DynaTAC 8000x around 1985.
This phone cost around $ 4000 which was very expensive. In addition, it was rather heavy and tall. Another defect, its autonomy was very low, we could only use it for about 1 hour. -
The first cordless phone
The second major innovation developed in the 1990s, when the telephone cord could be abandoned. Communication between the set and the handset takes place by radio waves, first by analog transmission at the end of the 1980s with a base and terminals equipped with telescopic antennas, then by encrypted digital transmission with DECT cordless telephones from the mid-90s. Thanks to this innovation, we could call from anywhere in our house, without having to take the telephone base. -
The first smartphone : the IMB Simon
The IBM Simon is the first smartphone and touchscreen mobile phone in History, released in 1994. It is the first example of a device combining several very different functions. Indeed, it had a messaging service, could receive faxes and serve as a PDA. -
The first phone with a multi-touch interface : The IPhone 2G
The first iPhone called iPhone 2G or iPhone EDGE was the first mobile phone with a multi-touch interface, released in 2007.
The device revolutionizes cell phone design by eliminating most of the hardware buttons and forgoing a stylus for its on-screen interface in favor of a few physical buttons and a touchscreen. This approach is emulated by most of the new smartphone models that follow.
