Story: Telecommunications

First-generation mobiles

First-generation mobiles

The first mobile phones, shown here by Post Office engineer Harry Shilling in March 1985, used analog technology. Analog is the electronic transmission of sound using signals of varying frequency carried by an electromagnetic current. Digital, or digital and analog combined, quickly became standard mobile phone technology.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1985/1159/8A
Photograph by Stuart Ramson

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

A. C. Wilson, 'Telecommunications - Mobile phones', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/22027/first-generation-mobiles (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by A. C. Wilson, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Apr 2022