The ancestor of smartphones is 30: How was the Nokia 9000 Communicator born?

The Nokia 9000 Communicator, considered one of the precursors to the powerful devices carried in pockets today, has left its 30th year behind. Launched by the Finnish company Nokia in 1996, the device went down in history as one of the most remarkable models to combine phone, email, and office functions before the concept of a "smartphone" had even settled into everyday technological language.

The Communicator was introduced at the CeBIT technology fair held in Hanover, Germany, in March 1996. Released for sale five months later, on August 15, the device stood out as a product that expanded the boundaries of mobile communication 11 years before Apple launched the first iPhone.

THE OFFICE IN YOUR POCKET IDEA

The Nokia 9000 Communicator was designed specifically targeting business people and executives. The device, which was approximately 4 centimeters thick, weighed nearly 400 grams; in this respect, it was well above today's smartphones. Its price also competed with the mid-segment personal computers of its time: approximately 10 thousand Finnish markka, which is about 2 thousand 200 Euros in today's value.

Nokia positioned the device with the concept of an "office in your back pocket." The Communicator could send faxes and emails, connect to the internet with its integrated modem, and run basic office applications such as a digital agenda, spreadsheet, and word processor. When the foldable design was opened, the phone turned into a mini-computer with a full keyboard and a 4.5-inch monochrome screen.

The device also featured dedicated keys for quick access to main applications. Later, innovations such as a color screen, lighter design, higher processing power, and the first versions of the Symbian operating system stood out in models developed under the 9000 series.

NOKIA'S RISE AND THE CHANGING MARKET

Due to its high price, the Nokia 9000 Communicator did not become a model that reached the masses. However, the device made a significant contribution to Nokia being perceived as one of the most innovative mobile phone manufacturers in the second half of the 1990s. While the company produced models that attracted attention in the high-end segment, it also strengthened its position in the global market with phones that appealed to different budgets.

Two years after the Communicator went on sale, in 1998, Nokia surpassed Motorola to become the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer. This leadership continued until it was overtaken by Samsung in 2012. In 2007, seen as Nokia's peak year, more than 1 billion mobile phones were sold worldwide for the first time, and 40 percent of these devices carried the Nokia brand.

The introduction of Apple's first iPhone in the same year changed the direction of the sector. With its touch screen, application ecosystem, and new understanding of user experience, the smartphone market entered a completely different era. Nevertheless, the Nokia 9000 Communicator retains its special place in the history of technology as one of the early and effective examples that carried the mobile phone beyond being just a communication tool.

News Source: 12punto