The social history of the mobile telephone involves both the history of technological development and an account of changing
social and political frameworks into which the new technological developments become integrated. The technological
innovations of mobile telephony were established from the 1940s, but it was not until the 1990s that adoption took off. It has
been claimed that the mobile telephone revolution can be explained by changes in the way communication happens through
social networks, away from old hierarchical forms. Several unique communicative and behavioural patterns have emerged in
countries with mass use of the mobile telephone, including texting (SMS) and the development of new social norms.
Nevertheless there is still huge global variation in use and development, and more research needs to be conducted which
responds to very local patterns of use and reuse.