When was the first flip phone invented?

The first flip phone, called the StarTAC, was invented by Motorola in 1996. The concept of "flip phones" was first introduced by StarTAC's predecessor, called the MicroTAC, in 1989.

The mobile phone industry was revolutionized by Motorola when it launched the world's first flip phone, otherwise known as a "clamshell" phone, on January 3, 1996. The Motorola StarTAC was an instant success, garnering widespread popularity among mobile users. During its release, the StarTAC became the smallest, lightest handset in the market at 3.1 ounces. Some of the key features of the StarTAC included SMS text messages, vibrate alert setting and the use of lithium-ion battery as back-up battery.