It was the size of a dustbin lid and had a range of just half a mile.The world's first mobile phone could hardly be more different to today's devices, which are small enough to slip inside a pocket and can call almost anywhere in the world.
But its inventor, Nathan Stubblefield, is finally being recognised as the father of mobile phone technology exactly 100 years after he patented his design for a "wireless telephone".
The melon farmer came up with his invention in 1902 after devoting every spare hour and penny he had to establishing a telephone service in his rural home-town of Murray, Kentucky.
He constructed a 120ft mast in his orchard, which transmitted speech from one telephone to another using magnetic fields.
However, the total amount of wire required for the coils in the phones was far longer than what would be required to simply connect them - but the invention allowed mobility.
The self-taught electrician demonstrated his device in the town's public square on New Year's Day in 1902, broadcasting music and speech to five receivers.
And in 1908 he patented a new version designed to communicate with moving vehicles such as stagecoaches and boats.
Unfortunately, his phones were not commercially successful in his lifetime and he died virtually penniless in 1928.
But now a book has credited him with being the father of the modern mobile phone and he is being honoured with his very own page on the Virgin Mobile website to mark the anniversary of his creation.
Virgin's founder Sir Richard Branson said: "Nathan is the father of the mobile phone and I'm thrilled we can celebrate the 100-year anniversary of his invention that in some way went on to change the way the world communicates."
Field test: Receiver in hand, Nathan Stubblefield demonstrates his invention in his orchard (the mast can be seen in the centre of the picture)
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