birthofacellphone

The birth of a cell phone

How does a cell phone become a cell phone? More than just processors and plastic, most cell phones in the U.S. owe their existence to the behind-the-scenes collaboration, and sometimes conflict, of the carriers and manufacturers that create a concept and design long before a smartphone or flip phone emerges from the factory.

How do phones wind up in a carrier's lineup, how long does it take to get a phone on the market, how is price determined, and what kinds of problems can delay a launch? In an effort to answer these common questions, I sat down … Read more