Cell phones have evolved greatly since their origins in the mid-20th century. Early research into mobile phones in the 1940s used large vehicle-based phones, but the first handheld mobile phone call was made in 1973. Mass adoption of cellular technology was slow at first due to regulatory hurdles, but the introduction of digital networks in the 1980s and 1990s helped popularize cell phones. Modern cell phones are on their third generation of technology and support features like live streaming media, demonstrating how far the technology has progressed from its beginnings in car-based radios.