The Finnish company Nokia has been working for a long time. It began its activity at the end of the 19th century, but became world famous only in the second half of the twentieth. Initially, the company was engaged in the production of paper and cellulose, then - rubber and rubberized cables. For some time she was engaged in the manufacture of consumer electronics and radio equipment for the military. The company released the first Nokia mobile phone only in 1983, almost a hundred years after its inception.
The first mobile dialer model
Nokia has been making radiotelephones for a long time before launching the first truly mobile phone, Nokia. The first radiotelephones were large and bulky. They were used mainly as automobile telephone exchanges, since such a telephone weighed more than 6 kg. In order to call from such a device, it was necessary to register it. He was assigned a number that had to be indicated when calling the operator. Communication took place as follows: the subscriber called the operator, called his number and askedassociate it with another. After that, he waited for a response.
The first Nokia mobile phone, which you could take with you and call from anywhere and anywhere (if only there was coverage), appeared only in 1983. Today it is difficult to imagine that a phone weighing 800 grams and with the dimensions of a brick could be a convenient mobile device, but then it was so. It could be taken with you - it easily fit in a bag or briefcase. The battery lasted 8 hours. For calls, the PBX network was used. Calls were made as follows: first, the owner of the handset called the operator and called the phone number he wanted to call.
The first models of the Mobira series were supplied both to Western countries and to the Soviet Union. The company signed an agreement with the USSR. They not only supplied handsets, but also built the corresponding infrastructure. The owners of the first mobile phones were representatives of the party elite. It is authentically known that Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev had such an apparatus, and he used it. Therefore, the first Nokia model was sometimes called the "Hump". In 1987, an improved model was released that weighed almost half as much as the previous version.
Struggle between two brands
The first mobile phone models released by Nokia, CityMan and Mobira Senator competed with only one company, which owns the primacy of the invention of the cell phone - Motorola. This struggle continued for a long time, and only after 2000 did Nokiaoutperformed the competitor. It should be clarified that initially the advantage was on the side of Motorola. However, Nokia was able not only to create the first mobile phone, but also to build the appropriate infrastructure for customer service. The first step to success was the creation of a GSM signal transmission standard and an extensive coverage area. Now you can make direct calls. The operator connected subscribers automatically, it was enough just to enter the desired number and call.
Another competitor of the first Nokia phones, oddly enough, was an ordinary landline telephone, which was installed at home or on the street (telephone booth). Making calls from such a phone was easier and cheaper. The signal was stable, and there was no interference either. However, Nokia coped with such a competitor.
The first model that fit in the hand
The bulky first designs were replaced by the comfortable and compact Nokia 1011. It fit in your hand or pocket and enjoyed great success not only among businessmen and politicians, but also among people with average incomes. It was the first mass production model in the history of Nokia phones. They were released almost until 1994. Signal transmission was carried out according to the ATC standard. The battery lasted for a day. The handset weighed less than 400 grams (and it was a breakthrough for the company), had a phone book for 99 addresses, the ability to send text messages.
Pipe-"banana"
Perhaps the most recognizable model was the Nokia 8110, whichpeople nicknamed the banana for its curved shape. By the way, this was the first Nokia model, which the company actively advertised. So, the main character in the first film "The Matrix" received exactly "Nokia 8110" in the envelope.
In total, over 50 million copies of this model have been sold worldwide. Keep in mind that in the nineties of the last century, a mobile phone was still considered a luxury. It was not so much the phone that was expensive, but the communication services. Therefore, such a volume of sales for that time was a kind of record. The phone was comfortable to hold in the hand, and a retractable cover was installed in it to protect the buttons. On the first devices of this model, the lid performed an exclusively protective function, in later variations it performed the function of a call acceptance button and was pulled out with the help of a wheel, and not longitudinal recesses on the sides.
Best selling Nokia phone model
In the late nineties, other electronics manufacturers entered the cell phone market: Alcatel, LG, Sony and others. However, the leadership remained with Motorola and Nokia mobile phones. Thanks to the spread of the unified GSM data transmission standard, the creation of infrastructure and a large coverage, communication services have become much cheaper. All this made it possible to realize the idea of an inexpensive mobile phone for everyone.
The first Nokia phone model that became mass-produced was the Nokia 1100. This simple model had a simple set of functions for its time: a phone book for a hundred numbers,support for the then basic communication standards (GSM) and the transmission of SMS messages. A simple, unremarkable grayish-white handset, with a small black-and-white screen and keys protected from dust and moisture (a little trick from the manufacturer). It was intended for sale in developing countries, however, in other countries, the pipes sold well. In total, over 260 million Nokia mobile phones were sold. Moreover, the device is still selling well, however, it is not being released today, but they are selling leftovers from warehouses.
Indestructible model
The durable case of the push-button "Nokia 5210" secured for him the glory of the indestructible. What kind of memes and jokes about him are not invented! Especially often this model is compared with modern touch phones, which are not particularly durable (the weak point of such phones is the large screen). The same case was on the Nokia 3310, on which it was possible to change the panels. They were multi-colored, and for the first time a game appeared on the phone - "Snake". It became lighter than its predecessor. For the first time, the phone has evolved from a device for businessmen and politicians to a fashion accessory.
Flourishing period
After the world passed the year 2000, the Nokia series of phones became the most popular. Many brands could not withstand such strong competition in all market segments. Motorola was the last to give up. The market was literally flooded with Nokia models. The company has captured all market segments, from simple budgetmodels and ending with extra-class devices.
It is difficult to single out any separate Nokia model that would really be a cult at that time. The range of push-button phones "Nokia" at that time was simply mind-blowing. Monoblocks, clamshells, sliders, regular and original. There were quite unusual models, for example "Nokia 5510". But in it the manufacturer was too smart, so sales were low. This was not the first Nokia mobile phone to suffer serious marketing and technical miscalculations.
In general, the company at that time had the opportunity to experiment. The brand was famous and popular, sales were high. Even when Apple released the first touchscreen phone in 2008, the market did not immediately respond. Until almost 2012, Nokia had no problems selling mobile phones.
Trying to break into the laptop and PDA market
For a long time, Nokia has not abandoned attempts to create a mobile device that, in terms of functionality and comfort, would not be inferior to powerful, but bulky laptops. At the same time, users of the device could use it as a mini-laptop with Internet access, and as a mobile phone for calls and SMS.
The Communicator Nokia 9000 was the first Nokia model with buttons like on a computer keyboard. However, the know-how was not appreciated by the market. The phone turned out to be bulky, its mass was 400 grams, which at thattime was already considered a significant disadvantage. In addition, users did not understand why to overpay for a low-powered computer with limited functionality, when for the same money it was possible to purchase a laptop or computer and there were still funds for connecting wired Internet and a modem. Less than 8 million copies have been sold worldwide. The line of such mobile devices had to be closed.
First problems
The advent of touch-screen phones slightly shook the position of push-button Nokias, but it was too early to talk about the loss of the entire market. The company has tried to develop its own line of touch screen mobile devices, but this is hardly a major breakthrough. The first model from Nokia with a touch screen - 5800 XPress - worked on the Symbian operating system, had a not quite high-quality assembly, because of this, the case creaked in the hands. It weighed significantly more than Samsung with the same technical characteristics, but cost more. In addition, Samsung worked on the more popular Android OS. But it was not the big industrial giants that hit the company the most, but Chinese and Indian manufacturers of cheap and convenient touchscreen smartphones.
Retry
After Microsoft acquired the Finnish company, MS management did not change the name of Nokia, but released a line of Nokia Lumia touch phones. They tried to take all the best from the previous models of Nokia mobile phones - this is a durable case, a powerful camera and processor, and addown. As an innovation, Microsoft added an original case design, a large touch screen and MS Phone operating system.
Nokia Lumia sold significantly better than the company's previous touch models. However, weak support from third-party software developers and the low popularity of Windows Phone OS on mobile devices led to the fact that Microsoft was forced to transfer part of the devices to Android OS. Although the brand remains, the company itself already has a different name and is owned by Microsoft.
Does the company produce feature phones today
Despite the fact that the company has shifted its focus to the production of high-tech smartphones, it does not stop developing and marketing modern Nokia push-button phones. New models are developed in accordance with modern quality standards and have the appropriate standardized connectors for the charger and headset. These are mainly budget models.
Is it possible to buy old phones, and will they work today
Many old models of phones the company stopped producing, but they are in large quantities in warehouses. Old models of Nokia phones are sold through online stores by various intermediaries. They cost less than at the time of the first release, while they are fully operational, and since the GSM connection has not disappeared anywhere, you can use them, make calls and send SMS, even use them as a modem, since somemodels supported 2G and 3G standards back in the early 2000s. The most popular models are Nokia 1100, 6200, 6300.
However, not all devices can be purchased cheaply. For example, the first Nokia models of the Mobiro series are now considered rare. There are few of them left and they are expensive, they are sold not from a warehouse, but from hands. Their price, most often, is the same as at the time when the mobile phone was new. With more modern devices on the market that are several times cheaper, this price seems prohibitive.
The importance of the company's work in the development of modern communications
Although Nokia lost the market and went under the hammer, its contribution to the development of modern means of communication is highly appreciated. In fact, it was thanks to her that the first standards for high-quality data transmission appeared: GSM, WAP / GPRS, and then 3G. Nokia has developed the very principle of signal transmission and installation of stations at a certain distance from each other, thus creating a large coverage area and stable signal reception and transmission.
Many of the ideas that the company tried to implement in its devices have been successfully applied by other manufacturers of mobile phones and smartphones. Nokia has always been a few steps ahead of its competitors, offering devices that were not always understood by users. As a result, it lost positions and lost a large market share. But despite the setbacks, Nokia mobile phones are still in high demand. Thisthe brand is trusted. They continue to fulfill their main task: to connect people in different parts of the world.
