10 fascinating facts about the history of cellphones
CELLPHONES are a big part of your life. You might deny it, but the truth is that you cannot function in today’s society without your trusty little friend.
Let’s face it, our cell phones are part of our everyday lives (the facts below will prove it) and without them we will be lost (literally). That is precisely why we at www.phonefinder.co.za have created a world dedicated to cellphones just for you, be it comparing deals, booking your phone in for a repair or just reading up on the latest mobile news.
Here are 10 fascinating facts about your phone, brought to you by Phonefinder (www.phonefinder.co.za).
1. The first mobile phone call was made in 1974 by Martin Cooper. He was a former Motorola inventor.
2. The first cellphone was developed at a time when there wasn’t even a cordless phone for the home. It weighed 1kg.
3. The name “cell phone” comes from the way the device operates. Towers serve areas with signal and are divided up into cells. Each cell connects with the next and ensures a seamless connection. The first use of the word “cell phone” was in 1984.
4. The first mobile phone went on sale in the United States at a whopping price of almost $9 000 (R106 000).
5. South Africa received the cell phone in 1994 and was initially only on offer through Vodacom, which at the time was spearheaded by Alan Knott-Craig (who later became the chief executive officer of Cell C).
6. Your cell phone has more computing power than the computer used for the Apollo 11 moon landing.
7. The average cell phone has 19 times more bacteria than toilet handles. Oh, and more people in the world have a cell phone than toilets.
8. The average person unlocks their phone 110 times every day.
9. South Africa has a population of 51.8 million, but a total mobile connection of 66.1 million. That’s a 128% active connection to population.
10. There are more cell phones in South Africa than there are taxis, TVs and radios combined!