Collection

BT Test Equipment used in the development of the CT2 (Second Generation) Telepoint Cordless Telephone system

Made:
1988 in United Kingdom and Ipswich

BT Test Equipment used in the development of the CT2 (Second Generation) Telepoint Cordless Telephone system. Two 19 inch electronics racks representing base station and handset, made by British Telecom Research Laboratories, Ipswich, Suffolk, 1989. Handset and base station, made by Ferranti Creditphone, British, 1989-1991. Handset, made by Shaye Communcations Limited, British, 1989-199. All conforming to the Common Air Interface Standard, CAI, 1988

BT Test Equipment used in the development of the CT2 (Second Generation) Telepoint Cordless Telephone system.

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers. The last operator, Rabbit, withdrew in 1993.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1994-1063
Materials:
metal (unknown), plastic (unidentified) and electronic components
Measurements:
Zonephone: 180 mm x 202 mm x 44 mm,
Zonephone base station: 225 mm x 51 mm x 44 mm,
electronic racks (each): 266 mm x 482 mm x 242 mm,
Forum phone: 140 mm x 60 mm x 15 mm,
type:
testbed
credit:
Donated by BT Laboratories

Parts

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset and Telepoint handset CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset and Telepoint handset CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset and Telepoint handset

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset, AND Telepoint handset, by British Telecom, UK, 1988

More

BT Test Equipment used in the development of the CT2 (Second Generation) Telepoint Cordless Telephone system.

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 266 mm x 472 mm x 242 mm,
Materials:
electronic components and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt1
type:
testbed
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
CT2 wireless telephone test bed module representing handset, 1988

CT2 wireless telephone test bed module representing handset, 1988

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset, made by British Telecom Research Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, 1988. Used for the development of a Telepoint system conforming to a Common Air Interface Standard with cellular radio networks, by British Telecom, UK, 1988

More

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset, made by British Telecom Research Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, 1988.

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 266 mm x 472 mm x 242 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt1/1
type:
testbed
Part of:
1994-1063 Pt1
Telepoint hand set associated with the CT2 Test Bed Module

Telepoint hand set associated with the CT2 Test Bed Module

Telepoint hand set associated with the CT2 Test Bed Module, by British Telecom, United Kingdom

Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt1/2
type:
testbed
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Part of:
1994-1063 Pt1
Zonephone Private Base Station with desk stand, Serial No Zonephone Private Base Station with desk stand, Serial No

Zonephone private base station, 1989-1991

Zonephone Private Base Station with desk stand, Serial No. 00000701, by Ferranti Creditphone Limited, England, 1989-1991.

More

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 225 mm x 51 mm x 44 mm, 831.5 g
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt2
type:
base station
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Zonephone Handset, Serial No Zonephone Handset, Serial No

Zonephone handset, 1989-1991

Zonephone Handset, Serial No. 83229411, by Ferranti Creditphone Limited, England, 1989-1991.

More

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry, as a home phone that could also be used outside. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 180 mm x 202 mm x 44 mm, .22 kg
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt3
type:
telephone component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Forum Phonepoint Personal Telephone Model No. LPC11, Serial No Forum Phonepoint Personal Telephone Model No. LPC11, Serial No Forum Phonepoint Personal Telephone Model No. LPC11, Serial No

Forum Phonepoint telephone, 1989-1991

Forum Phonepoint Personal Telephone Model No. LPC11, Serial No. 14210, by Shaye Communications Limited, British, 1989-1991.

More

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 140 mm x 60 mm x 15 mm, 72.5 g
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt4
type:
telephone
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
CT2 wireless telephone test bed module representing base station, 1988 CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station CT2 wireless telephone test bed module representing base station, 1988 CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station

CT2 wireless telephone test bed module representing base station, 1988

CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station, British Telecom Research Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, 1988. Used for the development of a Telepoint system conforming to a Common Air Interface Standard with cellular radio networks, by British Telecom, UK, 1988

More

CT2 Test Bed Module representing base station, British Telecom Research Laboratories, Martlesham Heath, Ipswitch, Suffolk, England, 1988.

In the late 1980s the second generation of cordless telephone (CT2) technology, also known as Telepoint, was in development. This rack of electronics was CT2 test equipment used by BT engineers at BT Laboratories, Martlesham Heath. Many people thought that Telepoint technology could compete with the young mobile phone industry. Four Telepoint services were launched: Rabbit, Phonepoint, Mercury Callpoint and Zonephone. Users could carry their Telepoint phone with them and make calls if they were within range of a public base station. The quickly expanding mobile phone industry rapidly outstripped Telepoint systems. Phonepoint, the first UK Telepoint service, closed only two years after its 1989 launch with fewer than 1000 subscribers.

Measurements:
overall: 266 mm x 472 mm x 242 mm, 9.26 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt5
type:
testbed
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Desk stand for zonephone private base station, 1989-1991

Desk stand for zonephone private base station, 1989-1991

Desk stand for zonephone Private Base Station, Serial No. 00000701, by Ferranti Creditphone Limited, England, 1989-1991

Measurements:
overall: 225 mm x 51 mm x 44 mm, 831.5 g
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and electronic components
Object Number:
1994-1063 Pt6
type:
base station

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