Mobile phones – 40 years from innovation to begging accessory

Mobile phones turned 40 last week. The first call on a mobile was made on April 3 1973.

So 40 years later I am walking down George St, waiting on the traffic lights to change outside the Apple store. Sitting on the corner is a man begging. He has a piece of cloth in front of him with a few coins scattered on it, and in his left hand he’s holding a cardboard sign explaining his need for money for medicine.

And he’s chatting on a mobile phone.