Interesting story in todays SMH about the evolution of the Mobile Phone, which turns 30 today.
Some of the facts quoted -
Mobile technology in Australia
Coverage – In August 1981, the mobile network was limited to greater Melbourne (the service launched in Sydney in December 1981, Brisbane in 1983 and reached all Australian capital cities by 1985).
Today, the Telstra mobile network covers 2.1 million sq km and reaches more than 99 per cent of the population.
Customers – Less than 1300 phones connected to the 007 network in its first year. Today, more than 11 million services are on Telstra’s Mobile Network, and in total 22 million people have mobile phone service in Australia.
Texts – In 1981, no one had heard of texting. In 2009/10, Telstra customers sent 9.4 billion text messages.
Mobile internet – Using a mobile network for internet access had not been imagined back in 1981. Now, Telstra’s mobile broadband network supports more than 10 million internet capable phones, tablets and data cards.
Base stations – Thirty years ago, there were three base stations in Melbourne and five base stations in Sydney. Today, there are more than 7400 base stations across Australia.
Costs – To buy a mobile phone it cost $4995 plus a $350 installation fee in 1981, compared to today where a customer can buy a phone from Telstra for less than $35 outright.
Read more: Mobile technology in Australia
Coverage – In August 1981, the mobile network was limited to greater Melbourne (the service launched in Sydney in December 1981, Brisbane in 1983 and reached all Australian capital cities by 1985).
Today, the Telstra mobile network covers 2.1 million sq km and reaches more than 99 per cent of the population.
Customers – Less than 1300 phones connected to the 007 network in its first year. Today, more than 11 million services are on Telstra’s Mobile Network, and in total 22 million people have mobile phone service in Australia.
Texts – In 1981, no one had heard of texting. In 2009/10, Telstra customers sent 9.4 billion text messages.
Mobile internet – Using a mobile network for internet access had not been imagined back in 1981. Now, Telstra’s mobile broadband network supports more than 10 million internet capable phones, tablets and data cards.
Base stations – Thirty years ago, there were three base stations in Melbourne and five base stations in Sydney. Today, there are more than 7400 base stations across Australia.
Costs – To buy a mobile phone it cost $4995 plus a $350 installation fee in 1981, compared to today where a customer can buy a phone from Telstra for less than $35 outright.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/3ne9a2g
