What Year Did Bag Phones Come Out?
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a new type of mobile phone was introduced that changed how people communicated with each other. This was the bag phone, also known as the “brick” phone. Bag phones were the first generation of mobile phones that allowed for users to make and receive calls without being tied to a landline.
The History of Bag Phones
Bag phones were first introduced in 1987 by Motorola. The company developed the first bag phone, which was a bulky, clunky device that weighed in at around 3 pounds. Unlike today’s smartphones, the bag phone was a simple device that only allowed users to make and receive calls. Despite its bulky design, it was still a revolutionary device as it allowed users to communicate with each other without being tied to a landline.
At the time, bag phones were seen as cutting-edge technology and were very expensive. The first bag phone cost around $2,500, which was a hefty price tag at the time. Despite the hefty price tag, bag phones quickly gained popularity as they allowed users to make calls on the go.
How Bag Phones Worked
Bag phones worked by using a cellular network. Unlike today’s smartphones, which use 3G or 4G networks, bag phones used the first-generation cellular network. This first-generation cellular network was much slower than today’s networks, but it was still revolutionary at the time as it allowed users to make and receive calls from anywhere within the coverage area.
The bag phones were powered by a rechargeable battery, which could last for up to 8 hours of talk time. The battery was rechargeable, so users would have to plug the phone into a wall outlet to recharge it. Additionally, the bag phones could only be used within the coverage area of the cellular network.
The Decline of Bag Phones
As technology advanced, bag phones quickly became obsolete. By the late 1990s, bag phones had fallen out of favor as they were replaced by more advanced mobile phones. These new phones had much faster data speeds, longer battery life, and were much smaller and more lightweight.
The bag phones were replaced by flip phones, which were quickly followed by the advent of smartphones. Smartphones allowed users to access the internet, run applications, and do much more than just make and receive calls. As a result, bag phones quickly faded away.