Week 1 Mobile Communication: Technical Issues and Methods for ...

By Carl-Johan Kristiansson

Ling & Donner, (chapter 2)

In chapter 2 we learn about the underpinnings of cellular networks - how mobile communication has been enabled by combining radio-based communication and landline networks. Chapter 2 further introduces us to the development of cellular telephony systems, starting back in the 1860?s with electrical discharges and radio waves. G. Marconi had a large influence as he managed to figure out how to send radio signals over great distance. Following, the broadcast radio technology enhanced the wireless transmission and was used by police, fire fighters and the military and commercial radio stations. Supported by the transistor and the integrated chip, transmission towers were employed to track and route individual units in 1940. In 1969 the first hand-held mobile phone was used. A common standard, GSM, was developed in 1980 allowing the mobile phone to spread and diffuse into larger societies. Finally, during the past one or two decades we have experienced a rise of new technologies within the mobile communication field: SMS, MMS, Internet connection etc. Handsets have also increased in battery life and decreased in size to become more portable. The chapter rounds up with the commercialization of mobile communication exemplified by prepaid technology, lock-in strategies and reduction of churn.

Farley, ?Mobile telephone history?

This article does more or less explain a similar order and development of the mobile handset as Ling & Donner presented in Chapter 2. What is interesting with this text though, is that it provides insights into how government regulations and certain public and private organizations have affected the development of mobile communication. Indeed, governments, the Federal Communications Commission, Bell systems, Nokia, Ericsson and tele-operators have all had their impact on research-, legislation-, diffusion- and growth of mobile technology, some of them promoting mobile communication development, some of them hindering mobile communication development.

Goggin, G. ?Making voice portable: The early history of the cell phone?

This text is introduced by the telegraph, which became a foundation of newer communication technology. According to Goggin, there was of a close relationship between the telegraph and the railways which each in their own way supported infrastructures for communication. Following the telegraph was displaced by the telephone. Even though it was demonstrated in 1877, it was first gained a foothold in the private sphere of households in the 1920?s. This was due to social and cultural dynamics as regular social conversations were in the beginning not associated with this new technology. Technical advances in wireless communication came during World War II and first after changes in telecommunications policies and regulations and market liberalization the mobile phone slowly began to gain a foothold in the broader society.

Abrahamson, ?Hear me Now?.

Abrahamson article is maybe the most political text of the bunch. To put it briefly, he defends the American system of regulation, which seemingly was blamed for the delay of wireless telephony. He argues that the case is much more complex and that the national monopoly services have caused the delay of wireless communication together. As I understand it he believes in a combination of market with regulators.

Comments:

I think these articles were interesting to read as they complemented one another by each assessing different technical-, political-, social- and evolutionary insights to the history of mobile technology and communication.

It seems like Goggin, Farley and Abrahamson share a similar view - that mobile technology wasn?t developed for democracy and the larger society, to promote sociability between civilians, but rather to streamline private and public organizations, to promote isolated research and coordinate infrastructures and even use it for war. Despite bureaucracy and regulations mobile technology fortunately ended up to be widely used among civilians as well.

The actual use of many of the mentioned communication technologies turned out to be vastly different from what was originally intended or expected. Even the Internet was supposed to be used within the American defense but turned out to be a great advantage for the broader population. Since the mobile phone is still at an ?infant stage?, other advantages besides the present and expected ones might be discovered in the future. This supports why more social- and cultural research in mobile technology is needed.

Source: https://blog.itu.dk/DMKO-F2012/2012/02/05/week-1/

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