Journey of Communication Technology - Internet & Mobile Era (1990s–2000s) – The Age of Global Digital Connectivity
This era marks a seismic shift in how humans communicate. The internet and mobile phones became widely accessible, transforming communication from one-to-one and scheduled (telegrams, landlines) to instant, anytime, anywhere messaging, browsing, and calling.
π 1. Rise of the Internet (1990s)
πΈ️ Key Milestones:
1991: World Wide Web goes public
1995: First commercial internet service launched in India (VSNL)
1996–1999: Cyber cafes emerge in metros; internet becomes available in homes
π Internet Features:
Email replaces letters
Chat rooms, forums, and blogs connect global communities
Search engines (Yahoo!, Google) change information discovery
Web 1.0: Static websites with limited interactivity
π¬ Early email services in India: VSNL mail, SatyamOnline, Rediffmail
π± 2. Mobile Phones Transform Communication (Late 1990s–2000s)
π Early Mobile Era (2G – GSM/CDMA)
1995: First mobile call in India (between West Bengal CM & Telecom Minister)
Technology: GSM & CDMA (digital voice + SMS)
Affordable handsets (Nokia, Motorola) drove adoption
Year
|
Milestone
|
1995
|
First
mobile call in India (Modi Telstra)
|
1998
|
Mobile
phones begin to spread beyond metros
|
2000s
|
Prepaid
SIM cards revolutionize access
|
π² Mobile Features (2G Era):
Text messaging (SMS) becomes the new normal
Ringtones, wallpapers, and games personalize devices
Limited internet access (WAP, GPRS) began around 2004–05
3. India-Specific Developments
Area
|
Impact
|
Business
|
Stock
updates, SMS alerts, and mobile banking emerge
|
Education
|
Email
and Google open up access to global knowledge
|
Society
|
Cyber
cafes become youth hubs; mobile phones bridge family distances
|
News/Media
|
Newspapers
go online; SMS updates gain popularity
|
π₯️ 4. Computers, Internet CafΓ©s & Email Boom
Cyber cafΓ©s sprang up in every town
Online chatting (Yahoo! Messenger, Rediff Bol) popularized digital friendships
Flash websites, blogs, and Orkut introduced personal publishing
π¬ 5. Mobile vs Internet Use (Late 1990s–2000s)
Feature
|
Internet
(Cyber cafΓ©s)
|
Mobile
Phones
|
Cost
|
Hourly
rates
|
Prepaid
balance
|
Use
case
|
Email,
browsing, chatting
|
SMS,
calling, ringtones
|
Devices
|
Desktop
PCs
|
Basic
phones (Nokia, Sony)
|
Internet
access
|
Dial-up
or GPRS
|
Slow
WAP, no full browser
|
π§ Summary: What Changed in This Era
Domain
|
Before
(1980s)
|
After
(2000s)
|
Communication
|
Phone
calls, letters
|
Email,
SMS, chat, mobile calls
|
Media
|
Radio,
TV
|
Online
news, blogs, Orkut, YouTube
|
Work
Culture
|
Manual
files, fax
|
Digital
docs, email, forums
|
Access
|
Government
centers
|
Personal devices (mobile, desktop)
|
π§ Foundations Laid for:
3G/4G connectivity
Social media boom
e-Governance and e-commerce
Digital identity & mobile banking (later Aadhaar & UPI)
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