Dr. Martin Cooper, one of the inventors of the first cell phone

NEW YORK (AP) — A cell phone was first used exactly 40 years ago.

On April 3, 1973, the first handheld portable phone was demonstrated
for reporters by Motorola executive Martin Cooper (pictured) on a New
York City street corner.

Cooper contacted Joel S. Engel, of Bell Labs, using a Motorola device
that looked like "a small, domesticated version of military walkie-talkies,"
according to an Associated Press report at the time.

The device weighed just under three pounds. The iPhone 5 weighs just
under 4 ounces. 

 
The Motorola DynaTAC and a current Samsung Galaxy S3.

1957

 
Bendix Model 526C Catalin Table Radio (1945/46)

The Bendix model 526C was one of 16 new models that debuted in New York City
during a showing before distributors in October of 1945. The line marked the first
time entry of Bendix Aviation Corporation’s Radio Division into the production of
domestic radios. They had been a manufacturer of military avionics during WWll.