In 1985, the seeds of a revolution were sown in the UK when people were first able to communicate using one of the most remarkable items of personal technology to have been developed – the mobile phone.The authors, both acknowledged experts in this field, explore the origins of the mobile phone in the UK and its evolution over the following thirty years. Throughout the book they anaylse the background developments, such as the licensing of new networks, the emergence of new data services and the technical evolution through TACS, GSM, UMTS and LTE as well as the development of text messaging and the integration of the mobile with the web. Alongside this, the authors explore the design and technical changes to the handsets, including the integration of cameras, the emergence of apps and the trend-setting influence of the iPhone.Ranging from 1G through to the current 4G networks, this book tells you everything you need to know about the development of the mobile phone in the UK.

Professor Nigel Linge has worked in the field of computer networking and telecommunications since 1983. His academic research interests include the operation and practical application of computer networks, communication protocols and telecommunications. He has an active public engagement profile explaining and demonstrating telecommunications and computer networking, and the engineering that underpins it, to schools and the general public.Andy Sutton has 30 years' experience in the telecommunications industry and has worked as the Principal Network Architect at the mobile and internet provider EE. In 2013 the University of Salford appointed him as a visiting professor to work with students on research projects. He is a member of the Association for Industrial Archaeology.