1963 Prediction of Mobile Phones

In 1963 the Mansfield News-Journal predicted that, "Some day, Mansfielders will carry their telephones in their pockets."

So when did the first phone debut that could be carried in a pocket? Depends on the size of the pocket, I guess. But I think it was arguably the Motorola StarTAC, that came out in 1996 — 33 years after the News-Journal prediction.

Mansfield News-Journal - Apr 18, 1963

     Posted By: Alex - Fri Mar 15, 2024
     Category: Technology | Telephones | Yesterday’s Tomorrows





Comments
Flip-phones always remind me of (and prob. got their idea from) watching Star Trek, when they opened up what was either a medical device, or a form of communication, when they were exploring different planet's. "Beam me up, Scotty! Party of 8+ billion people"
Posted by PartyKidAnt on 03/15/24 at 05:22 AM
PartyKidAnt,

This (1963) predates Star Trek by 3 years (1966). Maybe they did get the idea from ST but the original idea certainly didn't start there.
Posted by crc on 03/15/24 at 08:14 AM
The star tac is still my favorite phone. Sadly, it doesn't work with 3, 4 or 5G.
Posted by Big Mike on 03/15/24 at 09:02 AM
I watched a TV interview with the Head of R&D at Motorola (previous to the interview) who was credited with the invention of the cell phone. They were in his house, which looked obviously like it was on the California coast. The interviewer asked him how he got the idea. He said, "Watching Star Trek, of course."
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 03/15/24 at 09:27 AM
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