Fifty years ago, bemused New Yorkers watched a middle-aged man walking the streets of Manhattan, talking to a large plastic brick about the thickness of a hardback book which he was holding to his right ear.
In fact Martin Cooper had just won the race for the first public phone call on a mobile device.
Now 94, he cannot recall many of the details of that first call, to a competitor’s land line, except to check its clarity.
Most likely it was some version of a phrase all of us have used many times since. “Hello, can you hear me ?”
Mr Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola at the time, is now widely regarded as the father of mobile phone.
The device Cooper used on April 3, 1973, was a prototype by Motorola, a US company based in Illinois. The DynaTAC 8000X had already cost around $100 million to develop and would not be ready to market for another 10 years.
A 1984 Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, the world's first commercially available portable phone, right, and a 1973 DynaTAC prototype, left. Bloomberg
A mobile phone with nickel cadmium battery, made by Motorola in 1989. At the time the company was the biggest worldwide supplier of cellular telephones. Getty Images
Charlotte Connelly of the Science Museum with an IBM Simon mobile phone, the first smartphone and the forerunner of today's high-tech phones. Reuters
The Nokia 9000 Communicator combined digital voice, data services and personal organiser functions in a single unit. Getty Images
Kyocera introduced the Visual Phone VP-210 in 1999, which was able to transmit and receive colour images. Reuters
Motorola's new tri-band cellular phone in 1999. The Timeport could be used in Europe, Asia, Africa and the US. Reuters
Nokia's 7110 in 1999 was able to access the internet. AFP
The Nokia 3310 had numerous features and became one of the world's most popular and recognisable mobile phones. Getty Images
Apple's Steve Jobs with the new iPhone in January, 2007. The iPod mobile phone had a touch-screen, eight gigabytes of memory and cost $599. Reuters
An HTC Dream phone, which runs Google's Android operating system, at a preview in Singapore in 2009. Reuters
A racing game on an Android-based Motorola Atrix smartphone in Las Vegas, January 6, 2011. Reuters
A 2011 demonstration of Siri, an application that uses voice recognition and detection on the iPhone 4S. Reuters
The new Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone in 2014 was the first to feature a heart-rate monitor. EPA
The new iPhone 7 Plus in 2016 had no headphone jack and was the first officially waterproof iPhone. Reuters
A woman setting up facial recognition on her Apple iPhone X in New York in 2017. Reuters
A ZTE Axon M Dual Screens at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in 2018. Reuters
A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip foldable smartphone, February 2020. Reuters
Ring in the changes
Weighing about a kilo, it took ten hours to charge for half an hour’s talk time and could store just 30 numbers. The price, in 1984, was nearly $4,000, the equivalent of $11,500 today, or about Dh42,000.
Most were bought by companies to share among essential staff when they left town on business. Personal ownership of a mobile phone was only for the very rich and, given the charging time, the very patient.
Today’s cheapest mobile phone costs less than Dh90, weighs 73 grams and will last on standby mode for almost a month. Most prefer more sophisticated models from Apple, Samsung and Google — who bought Motorola in 2012.
The devices of 2023 can access the internet, send and receive instant messages, capture and edit high quality photos and video, play unlimited music, films and TV programmes, make payments and even store digital versions of your airline boarding pass. About the last thing they are used for is making phone calls.
It is a remarkable progression from the first model, and even more so in the UAE, where there are an astonishing 187 mobile phone subscriptions for every 100 people, one of the highest in the world.
New industry takes off
As an achievement it is all the more impressive when you consider the first direct dial landline phone call was made in Dubai in 1960, and in Abu Dhabi in 1963, just ten years before the mobile phone made its debut in New York.
By 1983, the first cell phone networks were sufficiently advanced for Motorola to launch the DynaTAC 8000X as a commercial product. Etisalat, the Emirates Telecommunication Company, was formed in 1976 and within seven years was offering the Middle East’s first mobile network.
Etisalat also offered phones, with the NEC TR5E1000-9A marketed in 1987 as the “Anis”, Arabic for a companion who brings happiness.
The Anis was a significant upgrade from devices like the Motorola DynaTAC.
It was less than a quarter of the price, at Dh8,500, weighed half as much and had 80 minutes talk time, with an LED display and hands-free operation.
The flash of camera bulbs has been replaced by the glare of mobile phone screens at sporting events. Photo: Getty Images
Crucially, along with Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, the mobile phone was one of the stars of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street, released that year and the epitome of yuppie ambition.
One of the first customers for the Anis was Mohammed Al Fahim, the Emirati businessman and the author of the best selling memoir Rags to Riches.
The handset is now an exhibit in his private collection. “It's very heavy, you cannot carry it in your pocket, and talk time would be about 45 minutes. Then you would have to recharge it for about 2 hours. So you used it only when necessary,” he told The National in an interview in 2011.
Even before Etisalat, Sheikh Zayed, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, had invested in a communication system of car phones, given to sheikhs and senior officials assist negotiations leading to the formation of the UAE in 1971.
The enthusiasm for mobile phones has only intensified in the UAE, with the vast majority of the population estimated to own at least one — with many having two or three.
Queues continue to form outside stores for the release of the latest Apple or Samsung models. The iPhone 3G was the first to be officially released in February 2009, available in 8GB and 16GB models and with a price tag of Dh2,646 plus a monthly fee of Dh199 for 125 minutes of calls and 500 MB of data.
For less than Dh25, today customers can buy the same amount, although most will need much more. The latest iPhone 14 retails at just under Dh3,200 — not much more than 14 years ago and infinitely more sophisticated.
In recent interviews, Cooper said laments the loss of privacy to the risk of internet addiction and spread of harmful content especially among kids.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
If you go
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.
The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available. Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus. Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel. Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
