Undoubtedly, if you’re watching this video, you already own a full touch screen phone
that slips easily into your pocket
And for those of you born before the turn of the millennium, maybe you were once the
envy of all your friends, thanks to owning a flip phone that could hang up on calls with
just a flick of the wrist.
But what’s the story behind flip phones and how did they go from being so iconic,
to extinct, before making a comeback in the last 2 years.
Here’s How It Happened.
The clamshell design was the product of futuristic science fiction long before becoming a reality,
appearing in early comic books and on screen in Star Trek: The Original Series.
The first real-world use of folding technology was developed by GRiD Systems corporation
in their Compass laptop from 1982.
Before Motorola released their patented flip design cell phone, the MicroTAC in 1989, followed
by the StarTAC a few years later, the first flip phone to use the lower folding half to
store the keyboard.
Of course other brands soon joined the craze, with Nokia offering the first smartphone (9000)
that included a QWERTY keyboard and Ericsson unveiling the first phone to come with Bluetooth
(T39).
Flip phones quickly came fitted with cameras and full colour screens, only for Motorola
to completely change the game in 2004, thanks to the Razr, whose slim design and focus on
style helped identify the handset as more of a fashion accessory than a phone.
The Razr sold over 50 million units in its first two years, figures that didn’t go
unnoticed
And consequently received competition from the likes of LG and Samsung to see who could
dominate the future of the flip phone industry.
That was until one summer’s day in 2007, when Steve Jobs presented Apple’s iPhone
Without the hindrance of a physical keyboard, the iPhone was able to offer a significantly
larger screen than nearly every phone on the market
Effectively killing off the folding phone trend and paving the way for the rise of full
touchscreen phones.
Flip phones spent the next ten years in a quiet existence, mostly on budget models in
the 20 to $50 dollar range, often aimed at senior citizens who find the prospect of a
touch screen somewhat overwhelming.
But in 2019, both Samsung and Motorola announced they would be releasing a new top end flip
phone
The Galaxy Fold was released at an eye-watering price of $2000 and opened horizontally like
a book, in contrast to typical flip phones.
Unsurprisingly the Fold receiving a mixed reception and a few scoffs at the extortionate
price given the untried nature of the technology.
Meanwhile Motorola’s offering was a reinvention of the once popular Razr, flipping open in
a similar manner to its predecessor and also priced at over $1000.
Needless to say the phone has proven equally as unpopular as Samsung’s device, although
the updated 5G model did make significant improvements.
For those of you wondering, the hinges of these phones include a gentle curving of the
screen, like folding a piece of paper without leaving a crease, providing both the Samsung
and Motorola devices with one fully uninterrupted display.
The advantage of the folding phone design is that the screen remains protected from
scratches while in your pocket or bag, but the smaller external screen still allows you
to check your messages and notification.
Some of these devices, especially the Razr, have flown off the shelves in China, but there’s
still considerable doubt about whether the design can have a sustained impact on the
smartphone industry.
Let us know if you’ve tried out one of the latest flip phones and whether you think the
craze is here to stay.
And that’s how it happened.
Thanks for watching.