Posted on 05/23/2010 5:50:53 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sure, you read reviews and take recommendations from friends before you buy a new cellphone, but have you ever stopped to consider what the inventor of the cellphone uses on a daily basis? C-SPAN has, and recently took the opportunity to ask the man himself, Marty Cooper, that very question during a wide-ranging interview. While Cooper said that he has used an iPhone previously, he recently passed it on to his grandson in favor of a Motorola Droid, which he says he chose because he wanted to get more experience with Android.
But that's not all, Cooper also revealed that he carries a Jitterbug as well for when he just wants to make phone calls. Surprising for a pioneer of mobile technology? Not exactly, as Cooper actually co-founded Jitterbug with his wife, who he credits with inventing the phone. Head on past the break to watch the complete interview.
(VIDEO AT LINK)
My only surprise is that he doesn’t just look for a payphone ;-)
Has anyone any experience with the Jitterbug?
I would like to get one for my father who has trouble seeing and dialing with small buttons (forget scroll screens).
hahahaha
apple sucks.
Actually, Apple makes great products, like the iPhone I’m carrying. Unfortunately, it is run by an egomaniac and hypocrite.
I’m switching to Droid when my contract is up in a year because I develop mobile software in whatever way I want.
Let me know if anyone replies to you. I just picked one up at the thrift store but was not sure exactly what it was. I think I have to activate it. Thanks.
I wonder how someone could claim to invent the cell phone, ever watch the Beverly Hillbillies the banker on the car phone and recall now this show was made in the 1960s, it was the same tech Amateur Radio, Ham Radio I know for a fact has used the same tech for 35 years or more, only it is called using a phone patch I was using those 20 years ago.Tone pad check,radio tower on hills and mountains check,handheld radio check,I think he may have invented cell phones at the same time al gore invented the internet.
Apparently your iIntelligence is iSubstandard because you don’t iDevelop in the iWay that iJobs iIntends for iYou...;)
I mean, if Apple doesn’t do it or doesn’t allow it, clearly it doesn’t need to be done or allowed!
iThink Different. Thus iDon’t have an iPhone!
The difference is the way the network operates; the cell phone network decides when to hand you off to a new cell based upon the signal strength of your phone and the load of a given cell. That’s what makes it a cell phone; it will make and break connections to different radio towers - cells - based upon what the network decides is best for your communications.
My mother was going to buy one because of the large keys and large screen print. She said that the service contract was a rip-off and kept her Motorola. I looked at the service plan, which was awful. If they haven’t changed it, they can keep it. I’m surprised that no one else sells a simple phone so that people with poor vision can use the thing.
...he has used an iPhone previously, he recently passed it on to his grandson in favor of a Motorola Droid, which he says he chose because he wanted to get more experience with Android. But that's not all, Cooper also revealed that he carries a Jitterbug as well for when he just wants to make phone calls. Surprising for a pioneer of mobile technology? Not exactly, as Cooper actually co-founded Jitterbug with his wife, who he credits with inventing the phone.If I have a choice, the Jitterbug will be my next phone. Can't see anything on the freakin' screens of these overpowered pieces of crap anymore, I just want to be able to make phone calls. Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.
Yes I see your point. I never worried about switching repeaters I would just switched from 5 watts to 1500 watts it got the job done LOL.
I wanna see the size of the battery in your phone! :)
The Jitterbug is marketed as a “I fallen and cant get up” device for the elderly when it should be marketed as “I want a mobile phone to make phone calls without all that extra crap” device. I’m not sure what the carrier plans cost for the Jitterbug, but unlimited voice should not cost more than $20 a month.
Ran it all on 12 volt’s from the car battery 500 watt’s on mobile I think was the largest I ever had also had the Handheld’s some of the Handheld’s even looked like early cell phone’s They are sort of like the CB radio only you have to be licensed and it is legal.
I think they’ve got a prepaid plan now as well, which is what I’d use.
With these newer phones, you have to 1)touch it to turn in on, 2)locate and tap the PHONE icon, 3) tap in the numbers and SEND.
I do like working with my contact list, though. That's so much easier than the flip phone.
He invented the hand-held cell phone while at Motorola. The radiophone in cars already existed.
ATt/Bell labs and Motorla were both deeply involved, simultaneously, in developing the basic cell systems.
Motorola started an initiative to make a handheld cell phone which eventually came out as the MicroTAC. Cooper made the first call from a handheld cellphone (a MicroTAC prototype), to an official of AT&T, while walking down the street in Manhattan where they had a special cellsite set up.
As to the complexity of the system. Nobody realized how much computer effort would be required to get a cell site up and running. And not just a single site, but a large network of them. They had to learn the hard way just how much computing power, and how much software, would be required.
The first cell site design at Motorola revolved around a Zilog Z80 microprocessor, chosen by some low-to-mid-level project leader, because that’s what he knew at the time. Caused a small furore over in Motorola’s LSI Group when they found out their sister operation wasn’t using a Motorola micro.
As it turned out, no 8-bit processor was up to the task, although Motorola at that time had some that would have come close (IMHO).
The cellphone division was a major driver (you might say, slave driver) for increased microcomputer capability and simultaneous decreased size and power consumption. They, and their portable products brethren, beat the Micro guys unmercifully about the head and shoulders on these subjects. It started an initiative in the microcomputer/microcontroller division called “The War On Current Drain.”
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