When Phones Were Fun: Motorola StarTAC (1996)

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[WHEN PHONES WERE FUN: MOTOROLA STARTAC]

To understand why the Motorola StarTAC became one of the most popular cellphones of all time, it helps to remember that before it came along … “mobile” phones? Well, they were basically bricks with sticks attached. And not too long before that, they were literally the size of a suitcase!

So when the Motorola StarTAC hit the scene in 1996 (twenty-five years ago!), sporting a footprint smaller than an audio cassette and a design straight outta Star Trek? Well, to say it upended the entire industry would be a massive understatement. From clip-on accessories to unauthorized sequels to lawsuit-spawning knockoffs to branded companion products to bizarre revivals as late as the mid-oughts … it’s no exaggeration to say, 60 million sales later, that the Motorola StarTAC launched the era of fun phones.


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[ABOUT WHEN PHONES WERE FUN – MOTOROLA STARTAC]

This is the fourteenth in a series of MrMobile videos exploring the mobile tech world's most vibrant period in design and experimentation. In “When Phones Were Fun,” Michael Fisher re-reviews cellphones from the golden age of mobile, the decade-long span from the turn of the century to approximately 2009.

When Phones Were Fun: Episode 14 features several Motorola StarTAC devices: one model 7868W from MrMobile’s family archives (thanks, bro); one apparently authentic Rainbow StarTAC 70; one counterfeit/re-engineered Rainbow StarTAC 130; and a variety of StarTAC-themed accessories purchased by MrMobile / Future plc. Motorola arranged an interview with Glenn Schultz, Product Development Leader, as a courtesy, but did not pay a fee or otherwise offer compensation in exchange for this coverage (nor did it preview or approve this content before publication). The lone sponsor of this video is Surfshark.


[LINKS]

Mobile Phone Museum:
https://www.mobilephonemuseum.com/

Vintage Mobile Phones on Reddit:
  / vintagemobilephones  

Remember when we wore cell phones on belts? This Motorola phone started the trend [CNet]:
https://www.cnet.com/news/motorola-st...

Motorola says Q copies StarTAC [RCR Wireless News]:
https://www.rcrwireless.com/19970310/...

Qualcomm Wins Judgment in Motorola Design Patent Case And Files New Claims for Infringement Against Motorola [Qualcomm]:
https://www.qualcomm.com/news/release...

Motorola Flare [Mobilecollectors.net]:
https://www.mobilecollectors.net/phon...

Retro Tech: DynaTAC [MKBHD - YouTube]:
   • RETRO TECH: DYNATAC  

Palm Ad: Holiday [Mashby - YouTube]:
   • Palm Ad: Holiday  

Lot 354 Star Trek: Enterprise (TV 2001-2005) - Communicator [thepropstore - YouTube]:
   • Lot 354 Star Trek: Enterprise (TV 2001-200...  

Star Trek Prop Enthusiasts [Facebook]:
  / 468336335426  




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[DISCLOSURES]

This post may contain affiliate links, which afford MrMobile / Future plc a commission if you make a purchase.

Additional information concerning MrMobile’s ethics policy can be found here: https://mrmobile.tech/ethics

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