MOTOROLA MICRO TAC 9800X FLIP TOP MOBILE PHONE, 1991

The worlds first flip phone was the Motorola Micro TAC 9800X launched in 1989. It's a design that is still seen today on millions of mobile phones around the world. The phones and batteries may have got smaller and more powerful, but the basic design is still there. The early phones were all analogue, and had the small LED display that is sought after by collectors. The later phones had the modern LCD display and some of them were digital and can still be used today. One of the best features of these phones is the antenna, which pulls up from the top of the phone. The antenna is just a piece of plastic and has no affect on reception. The phones antenna is internal, but it was felt that customers would want to see an external antenna, so one was added! On the 9800X the microphone was built into the flip part of the phone, but on all other models, it was in the body of the phone and the grooves cut into the flip are just for show. The basic design was used in many different types of phones, branded with many different names. Some of those phones didn't have the flip, some did.

• Illuminated Screen
  

Your comments:

• The charger had two slots for charging a spare battery as well as the phone, with its battery attached.
  .......... David Minott, Valley Stream, NY - USA, 2nd of August 2013
  
  

A1346