1980s–1990s: 1G Analog to 2G Digital Transition
The 1980s saw 1G analog networks like AMPS (US 1983) and TACS (UK 1985), with bulky 'brick' phones like Motorola DynaTAC 8000X (1983, 1kg, $4,000). Call quality poor, no encryption, battery life 30 minutes talk time.
- Technologies: Analog voice, no data
- Devices: Motorola MicroTAC (1989) – first flip phone
- Usage: ~20 million subscribers globally by 1990
Wow: First commercial mobile call 1983 (US) – but only 1 call per channel per tower, massive congestion in cities.
1990s: 2G GSM Era & SMS Birth
GSM (1991 Finland) standardised digital voice, roaming, encryption. GPRS/EDGE added packet data (up to 384 kbps).
- Technologies: TDMA, SIM cards, SMS (1992 first "Merry Christmas")
- Devices: Nokia 1011 (1992 GSM) to Nokia 3310 (2000, Snake game, 126 million sold)
- Usage: Global subscribers from 12 million (1993) to 741 million (2000)
Wow: SMS traffic exploded from 0 in 1992 to 15 billion messages/year by 2000 – the start of non-voice dominance.