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

CT2 Test Bed Module representing handset and Telepoint 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

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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 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

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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, 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, 1989-1991

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

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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, 1989-1991

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

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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 telephone, 1989-1991

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

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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 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

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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.