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The mobile phone

In 1973, Marty Cooper made the first public mobile phone call using his newly invented cell phone.

In 1973, Marty Cooper made the first public mobile phone call using his newly invented cell phone. Now, there are more mobile phones on the planet than people. Fourteen-year-old Becky, from Northern Ireland, asks Marty about that call and how his invention changed our lives.

Producer: Tamsin Barber.

World Wise Web is a co-production between BBC World Service and BBC Rewind.
Music composed by Nick Thorburn

Available now

10 minutes

Last on

Mon 2 Mar 202004:50GMT
BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

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Image credit

Two of the first cell phone models invented by Marty Cooper (Credit: Sandy Huffaker/Corbis via Getty Images)

Broadcasts

  • Sat 29 Feb 202005:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online, UK DAB/Freeview, News Internet & West and Central Africa only
  • Sat 29 Feb 202018:50GMT
    BBC World Service except Europe and the Middle East & News Internet
  • Sun 1 Mar 202005:50GMT
    BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
  • Sun 1 Mar 202015:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Mon 2 Mar 202000:50GMT
    BBC World Service South Asia
  • Mon 2 Mar 202002:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa
  • Mon 2 Mar 202004:50GMT
    BBC World Service Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

Podcast

  • World Wise Web

    Teenagers talk to technology pioneers who have shaped their lives