From the beginning of time, communicating while on the move has been a difficult task. Whether moving armies or products, the ability to communicate during travel is a pressing need. Travel has always meant a loss of personal contact during a journey, at stopovers, and even during a period of readjustment after reaching the final destination. It is not surprising then that developing techniques for communicating at all times would be of such critical importance. And with the advent of wireless technology, people have begun to discover ways to fulfill this need.
The first telecommunications devices with mobile capability came around the turn of the 20th Century with the invention of the wireless telegraph. Mobile technology boomed again in the period between World War I and World War II, with the invention of the radio telephone. But until the creation of the first rudimentary transistor, the technology was hampered by bulky hardware and outrageous costs. One downfall of this was that the new technology could only be utilized by the military, specifically in the areas of sea and air transport.
Technicians figured out that by spreading out frequencies, low enough to achieve extensive coverage, they could provide easier and cheaper mobile communications. But still the technology could only allow only for a limited number of simultaneous transmissions, and the quality of those transmissions was not all that great. Only advances in microelectronics and especially in microwave integrated and hybrid circuits, made it possible to move the frequency up. This opened the door to cellular telecommunications systems, which require the help of powerful computer programming.
Today, cellular phones offer general access to communication in practically any type of vehicle. Although coverage areas may vary greatly, the cell phone has become an indispensable device for travelers looking to stay in contact. The 21st Century has seen the proliferation of the mobile telephone, as well as the development of a range of personal communication devices.
More time is spent by people traveling, whether for business or personal reasons, than almost any other activity except sleeping. In previous times, this was simply wasted time. Now, this travel time is made incredibly productive by the use of mobile communications technology. How many hours were wasted in traffic jams, airport waits, or other commuting headaches? Now, that time can be put to good use thanks to mobile telecommunications, which allow these moments to become productive. Now that high-performance mobility technology is available and relatively affordable to a substantial section of the population.