Motorola Milestones

2018

• September 2018

• 90 years ago - 1928

  Motorola turns 90

  Paul Galvin and his brother, Joseph, incorporated Motorola’s founding company — Galvin Manufacturing Corporation — in Chicago on September 25, 1928.

2017

• December 2017

• 20 Years Ago - 1997

  

  WisdomPen Chinese Handwriting Software

  Motorola introduced the WisdomPen Chinese handwriting recognition system for portable communication devices in 1997.

• 25 Years Ago - 1992

  Confidant Pager

  Motorola's 1992 Confidant pager was the size of a credit card.

• 40 Years Ago - 1977

  

  Dimension IV Pager

  Motorola introduced the Dimension IV pager in 1977.

• November 2017

• 15 Years Ago - 2002

  

  Motorola A830 Phone

  Motorola introduced its first 3G (third-generation) cellular phone, the A830 model, in 2002. The A830 phone allowed users to make voice calls while sending or receiving data, and to capture and send images and short video clips.

• 70 Years Ago - 1947

  

  Motorola Golden View Televisions

  Motorola introduced a line of Golden View televisions in 1947, beginning with the VK101 Consolette model. The Golden View VT71 table model television was designed to be affordable and more than 100,000 units sold in one year.

• October 2017

• 30 Years Ago - 1987

  Last Car Radio

  After more than 50 years making car radios, Motorola produced its last car radio in Stotfold, United Kingdom, in 1987.

• 65 Years Ago - 1952

  Motorola's First Transistor

  In 1952 Motorola's semiconductor group began manufacturing the company's first transistor, a 3-amp power transistor.

• September 2017

• 25 Years Ago - 1992

  

  MicroTAC Ultra Lite Phone

  Motorola's 5.9-ounce MicroTAC Ultra Lite cellular phone was the world's lightest in 1992

• 35 Years Ago - 1982

  

  Sensar Pager

  Motorola introduced the unique pen-sized Sensar pager in 1982. Radically different from previous pagers, the 2-ounce Sensar pager was as small as a ballpoint pen and fit easily into a pocket.

• August 2017

• 50 Years Ago - 1967

  

  Quasar TV

  Motorola's 1967 Quasar color television had an innovative "Works in a Drawer" design that was easy to service.

• 65 Years Ago - 1952

  

  Toronto, Canada, Subsidiary

  Motorola’s first international subsidiary, Motorola Canada Ltd., opened in Toronto, Canada, in 1952. The facility produced radios and televisions.

• 40 Years Ago - 1977

  

  Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 Spacecraft Radios

  In 1977 Voyager 1's photographs of Saturn were transmitted by Motorola communications equipment to Earth over a distance of 1 billion miles. Motorola equipment aboard both Voyagers 1 and 2 was their primary communications link with Earth during their 12-year tour of the solar system.

• July 2017

• 25 Years Ago - 1992

  

  NewsStream Pager

  The 1992 Motorola NewsStream pager provided email, text messages, and news and financial headlines to portable computer users.

• 75 Years Ago - 1942

  

  Military Vehicular Radios

  In 1942 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation developed and produced SCR509, SCR510, SCR609 and SCR610 FM vehicular two-way radios for the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

• June 2017

• 75 Years Ago - 1942

  

  Army-Navy Awards

  Beginning in 1942 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation received five U.S. Army-Navy "E" awards for excellence in production.

• 75 Years Ago - 1942

  Converted Motorola Car Radios

  In 1942 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation converted 125,000 Motorola car radios into home radios. These were some of the few consumer radios available in the United States during World War II.

• May 2017

• 70 Years Ago - 1947

  

  Company Name Change

  In 1947 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation became Motorola, Inc.

• 10 Years Ago - 2007

  

  Motorola on Mount Everest

  In 2007 mountaineer Rod Baber used a Motorola MOTORIZR Z8 cellular phone on the highest peak of Mount Everest to make the highest-ever land-based portable phone call and text message. The call was made from the Himalayan mountain’s north ridge, at an altitude of 29,035 feet (8,848 meters).

• April 2017

• 40 Years Ago - 1977

  

  Developmental DynaTAC Cellular System

  In 1977 the FCC granted a developmental license for a Motorola DynaTAC cellular system in the Washington, D.C.—Baltimore, Maryland, USA, metropolitan area. The system was operated by American Radio-Telephone Service, Inc.

• 25 Years Ago - 1992

  Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd

  Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd. was established in 1992 with an initial investment of US$120 million.

• 55 Years Ago - 1962

  Integrated Circuits

  In 1962 Motorola introduced its first commercial integrated circuits, including emitter-coupled logic devices.

• March 2017

• 80 years ago - 1937

  

  Motorola Home Entertainment Radios

  Galvin Manufacturing Corporation entered the home entertainment business in 1937 with a line of Motorola phonographs and home radios.

• 50 years ago - 1967

  

  Motorola Logo Update

  In 1967 Motorola added a circle to its "M" insignia logo.

• February 2017

• 15 Years Ago - 2002

  

  Motorola V70 Cellular Phone

  In 2002 Motorola introduced the V70 cellular phone. The V70 phone's innovative shape, featuring a round display and rotating cover, marked Motorola's renewed focus on consumer-experience design.

• 10 Years Ago - 2007

  

  StarTACIII Cellular Phone

  In 2007 Motorola introduced the StarTACIII cellular phone in South Korea. The phone’s design built on the popularity of earlier Motorola StarTAC models, first launched in 1996.

• 55 Years Ago - 1962

  Radio for First American in Orbit

  A Motorola radio receiver on board American astronaut John Glenn's Mercury spacecraft received signals from Earth in 1962.

• January 2017

• 80 years ago - 1937

  

  First Company-Owned Motorola Facility

  In 1937 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (later Motorola) moved into a new headquarters and manufacturing facility at 4545 West Augusta Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

• 15 years ago - 2002

  First GPRS Cellular Network in India

  Motorola supplied equipment for India's first GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) cellular network in the city of Mumbai in 2002.

2016

• December 2016

• 75 years ago - 1941

  

  SCR511 Portable Two-Way Radio

  In 1941 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation designed the SCR511 portable two-way radio for use on horseback by the U.S. Army cavalry. Dubbed the "pogo stick," the radio was mounted on a staff or guidon so it could be supported by a saddle stirrup.

• 10 years ago - 2006

   

  IEEE Standards Association Award

  Motorola received the IEEE Standards Association’s 2006 Corporate Award. The award recognized Motorola for outstanding contributions that allowed people to be mobile and connected across the globe.

• November 2016

• 75 years ago - 1941

  

  Motorola Playboy Radio

  In 1941 the Motorola Playboy personal radio, with an antenna hidden inside its front cover, was one of the smallest portable radios on the market.

• 30 years ago - 1986

   

  Motorola Delegation to China

  Robert W. Galvin, chairman of the Motorola board of directors, led a delegation to China in 1986. The goal was to learn how China and Motorola could benefit from investments and technology transfers.

• October 2016

• 25 years ago - 1991

  

  Bravo Express Pager

  Motorola introduced the Bravo Express numeric pager in 1991. It featured message-storing, time-stamping, and a silent, vibrating alert function and came in a variety of colors.

• 30 years ago - 1986

  

  Six Sigma Quality Process

  Motorola invented the Six Sigma quality improvement process in 1986. Six Sigma provided a common worldwide language for measuring quality and became a global standard.

• September 2016

• 10 years ago - 2006

  

  MOTOKRZR Phone

  Motorola introduced the MOTOKRZR cell phone in 2006. The slender MOTOKRZR phone measured 17 millimeters thin and 44 millimeters wide, and featured a high-gloss vacuum metal finish and flash graphic user interface.

• 10 years ago - 2006

  China Social Responsibility Award

  The president of Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd., Ruey Bin Kao, received the 2006 China Business Leader Award for corporate social responsibilities. Motorola was recognized for supporting educational programs across China for the preceding 13 years.

• 15 years ago - 2001

  

  Semiconductor Breakthrough

  In 2001 Motorola scientists were the first to combine successfully the elements silicon and gallium arsenide on a single semiconductor chip.

• August 2016

• Motorola Brazil 10th Anniversary

  

  10 years ago - 2006
  20 years ago - 1996

  Motorola commemorated 10 years of manufacturing and research and development activities in Brazil in 2006. Motorola began producing pagers, mobile handsets and other wireless equipment at its Jaguariúna Industrial and Technological Campus in São Paulo in 1996.

• World’s First Dual-Mode Cellular Phone

  

  25 years ago - 1991

  In August 1991 Motorola introduced the world’s first dual-mode portable cellular phone, the MicroTAC Lite model. The MicroTAC Lite phone was compatible with both AMPS and NAMPS analog cellular transmission standards.

• July 2016

• Timeport 7382i Phone

  

  15 years ago - 2001

  The 2001 Motorola Timeport 7382i phone was the first General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) cellular phone available in North America. GPRS phones offered users always-on access to the Internet.

• World's Smallest Prototype Pocket Television

  

  50 years ago - 1966

  In 1966, Motorola developed the world’s smallest portable television receiver at the time. Four penlight batteries powered the 1.125 inch (2.86 cm) black & white experimental miniature set, referred to as the "Tiny Tim TV".

• June 2016

• Transituner and Golden Satellite TV

  

  60 years ago – 1956

  Transituner and Golden Satellite TV In 1956, Motorola introduced its first fully transistorized remote control for television. It was called the Transituner.

  The Golden Satellite television was Motorola's first TV with a remote control.

• May 2016

• MOTOSLVR (RED) Cellular Phone

  

  10 years ago – 2006

  Motorola introduced the red MOTOSLVR cellular phone in the U.K. to support RED in 2006. (RED) raised awareness and money for the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

• MOTO Q Business Phone

  

  10 years ago – 2006

  In 2006 Motorola introduced the MOTO Q with full QWERTY keyboard, a Microsoft Windows mobile software-based smartphone.

• April 2016

• Pagers in Asia

  

  25 years ago – 1991

  In 1991 the Asian paging market was booming as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in Japan ordered its one-millionth pager from Motorola. Motorola also produced Chinese and Thai language versions of its Advisor alphanumeric pager.

• March 2016

• Motorola MING Smart Phone

  

  10 years ago – 2006

  Motorola introduced the MING touch screen smart phone in Asia in 2006. It used advanced handwriting software to recognize more than 10,000 handwritten characters of the Chinese alphabet.

• Motorola V120

  

  15 years ago – 2001

  In 2001 Motorola introduced the V120 portable cell phone for customers in Brazil. The V120 phone used the CDMA digital cellular transmission standard.

• World's First GSM Cellular System

  

  25 years ago – 1991

  Motorola demonstrated the world's first GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) working-prototype cellular system and phones in Hanover, Germany, in 1991.

• February 2016

• Bravo Pager FLEX

  

  30 years ago – 1986

  Motorola introduced the Bravo numeric pager in 1986. It became the world's best-selling pager. The Motorola Bravo numeric pager could store five 24-character messages. Introduced in 1986, Bravo pagers became worldwide best sellers. Motorola was the sole American manufacturer of pagers by the late 1980s.

• January 2016

• Motorola V60 Cellular Phone

  

  10 years – 2001

  In 2001 Motorola introduced a metal portable cellular phone, the V60 model, with Internet access, text messaging and voice-activated dialing. A year later, the V60 phone became available in all three cellular technologies-GSM, TDMA and CDMA-and quickly became a worldwide best seller.

• China's First Cellular System

  

  30 years – 1986

  In 1986 China selected Motorola to supply the country’s first 800 MHz cellular system.

• Transistorized Car Radio

  

  60 years – 1956

  A 1956 automobile radio was Motorola's first commercial product to use transistors. The radio was smaller and more durable than previous models and used less vehicle battery power.

• October 2015

• Mariner and Montana Modem Cards

  

  20 years – 1995

  Motorola's 1995 Mariner and Montana modem and fax cards allowed users of mobile computers to connect to computer networks through cellular telephones.

• Silicon Transistor

  

  55 years – 1960

  In 1960 Motorola introduced the high-speed Mesa model, one of the smallest commercial transistors available.

• Motorola Custom Car Radios

  

  80 years – 1935

  In 1935 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation offered a line of Motorola car radios with control heads designed to match the instrument panels of most cars.

• September 2015

• The Motorola Brand is born!

  

   

  In 1930 Company founder Paul V. Galvin created the brand Motorola for the car radio—linking "motor" (for motorcar) with "ola" (which implied sound). Thus the Motorola brand meant sound in motion.

• First Motorola Brand Car Radio

  

  85 years – 1930

  In 1930 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduced the Motorola radio, one of the first commercially successful car radios.

• RSVP Pager

  

  20 years – 1995

  The 1995 Motorola RSVP numeric pager fit onto the back of any MicroTAC personal cellular telephone in place of a standard battery. It combined a pager with a cellular phone battery, allowing MicroTAC phone customers to receive numeric pages.

• August 2015

• Motorola Sporter Radio

  

  75 years ago – 1940

  The 1940 Motorola Sporter personal sports radio let people hear commercial radio broadcasts on the go. The radio had an antenna in the shoulder strap.

• Automotive 8-Track Tape Players

  

  50 years – 1965

  With Ford Motor Company and RCA Corp., Motorola designed and manufactured 8-track tape players for the automotive market in 1965.

• World's First Two-Way Pager

  

  20 years – 1995

  In 1995 Motorola introduced the world's first two-way pager, the Tango two-way personal messaging pager. It allowed users to receive text messages and email, and reply with a standard response. It also could be connected to a computer to download long messages.

• July 2015

• Handie-Talkie SCR536 Radio

  

  75 years ago – 1940

  In 1940 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (later Motorola) engineers developed the Handie-Talkie SCR536 AM portable two-way radio. This handheld radio became a World War II.

• Apollo-Soyuz Radio

  

  40 years ago – 1975

  Motorola transponders were used aboard the historic 1975 Apollo-Soyuz "Handshake in Space" docking mission. The American and Soviet space teams met in Earth's orbit to test an international docking system and joint flight procedures.

• Tough Talker Cellular Phone

  

  30 years ago – 1985

  Motorola transponders were used aboard the historic 1975 Apollo-Soyuz "Handshake in Space" docking mission. The American and Soviet space teams met in Earth's orbit to test an international docking system and joint flight procedures.

• June 2015

• World's First GPRS Cellular System

  

  15 years ago – 2000

  In June 2000, Motorola and Cisco Systems, Inc. supplied the world’s first commercial GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) cellular network to BT Cellnet in the United Kingdom. The system used the world’s first GPRS cellular phone, the Motorola Timeport P7389i model.

• Stylized "M" Motorola Logo

  

  60 years ago – 1955

  In June 1955 Motorola introduced a new brand logo, the stylized "M" insignia, or "emsignia." A company leader said the two aspiring triangle peaks arching into an abstracted "M" typified the progressive leadership-minded outlook of the company.

• May 2015

• Accompli Chinese Wireless Internet Phone

  

  15 years ago – 2000

  The 2000 Motorola Accompli A6188 phone used a touch-screen display with Chinese handwriting recognition technology. It included an electronic organizer, an English/Chinese dictionary and Internet access capability.

• Astronaut TV

  

  55 years ago – 1960

  The 1960 Motorola Astronaut television, a 19-inch model, was the world's first large-screen, transistorized, cordless portable television.

• April 2015

•  

   

  10 years ago

  In 2005 Motorola introduced the GSM model C115 cellular phone in India which was priced below US$40 and included features such as text messaging and long battery life. The GSM Association selected Motorola as the first handset provider for its Emerging Market Handset (EMH) Program.

• Ahwatukee Experimental Home

  

  35 years ago

  Motorola was a sponsor of the experimental 1980 Ahwatukee home in Arizona, USA. Motorola technologies controlled information, security, entertainment, electrical, environmental and energy management systems for the home.

• Science Advisory Board Associates (SABA)

  

  45 years ago

  In 1970 Motorola formed the Science Advisory Board Associates (SABA) to recognize outstanding technical contributions of exceptionally creative Motorola engineers and scientists.

• March 2015

•  

  

  31 years ago – 1985

  Motorola introduces complete line of cellular portable and mobile telephones. Introduction of DynaTAC 8000X portable cellular telephone to consumers- Motorola offered a complete cellular telephone system in 1984; including portable models (starting at US$3,995), car phones and transportable phones.

• Vehicular Cellular Phone

  

   

  In 1984 Motorola's DynaTAC 6000X vehicular cellular telephone featured a 14-digit LED display, 99-number phone book, programmable keypad and alert mode that signalled incoming calls by activating the vehicle's horn or lights.

• February 2015

• 1iDEN i1000plus Handset

  

  15 years ago – 1999

  The 2000 Motorola Accompli A6188 phone used a touch-screen display with Chinese handwriting recognition technology. It included an electronic organizer, an English/Chinese dictionary and Internet access capability.

• January 2015

• First Motorola Brand Car Radio

  

  85 years – 1930

  In 1930 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduced the Motorola radio, one of the first commercially successful car radios. Company founder Paul V. Galvin created the brand Motorola for the car radio—linking "motor" (for motorcar) with "ola" (which implied sound). Thus the Motorola brand meant sound in motion.

• Archivist's Corner

• World's First Portable Cellular Demonstration

   

  April 3, 1973

  On April 3, 1973, Motorola publicly demonstrated the world's first portable cellular telephone and system. The first public calls using Motorola DynaTAC (DYNamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) technology occurred in New York City.

  Want more? Read the original news release (PDF) or download Facts about the DynaTAC (PDF).

  More information about Motorola Heritage Services

  The Motorola, Inc. Legacy Archives Collection (1928-2010) will be shared by both companies and will continue to reside in Schaumburg, IL. The Legacy Archives Collection is still activity managed and continues to acquire materials created before the separation.

  New archives collections documenting Motorola Mobility, Inc. from 2011 forward will also reside in Schaumburg and will have their own professional archivist who has access to all the collections.