
The Nokia 9000 Communicator is a true pioneer in the world of smartphones. Released in 1996, it was the first smartphone to combine the features of a phone, computer, and personal digital assistant.
It had a physical QWERTY keyboard, which was a game-changer at the time, allowing users to type messages and emails with ease. This was a significant upgrade from the traditional numeric keypads found on most phones.
The Nokia 9000 Communicator had a 640x200 monochrome display, which may seem small by today's standards, but it was a massive improvement over the limited displays of the time. It also had 8 MB of internal memory, which was a significant amount for its time.
The device was quite bulky, weighing in at 297 grams and measuring 170 x 58 x 41 mm in size. Despite its size, the Nokia 9000 Communicator was a groundbreaking device that paved the way for the modern smartphones we use today.
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Ugly, but Revolutionary

The Nokia 9000 Communicator was a game-changer in the world of mobile phones. It had 8 MB of memory and a 33MHz processor.
This phone was a beast, with a black and white LCD screen that offered a then-high resolution of 640x200 pixels. The long, thin screen allowed for a graphical web browser on a mobile device.
You had to wait about 30 seconds for the phone to go online, and then content would start loading at a speed of 9.6 kbps. Mostly text, which wasn't exactly what you'd call a thrilling experience.
The phone was over 3.5 centimeters thick and weighed 397 grams, which is a lot compared to today's slim phones. A contemporary phone like the Motorola StarTAC weighed about 75% less and was 1.5 cm thick.
Despite its bulk, the Nokia 9000 Communicator was a revolutionary device that paved the way for future smartphones. If you still have one, you might be surprised to know that it's still in demand on eBay and other platforms, selling for over $600.
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The Nokia 9000 Communicator
The Nokia 9000 Communicator was introduced in 1996 as the first in Nokia's Communicator series.
This phone was huge and heavy, weighing in at 397 g, which is quite a difference from its modern equivalent, the Nokia E90.
The Communicator part of the phone is driven by an Intel 24 MHz 386 Central processor.
It has 8 MB of memory, which is divided into three parts: 4 MB for applications, 2 MB for program memory, and 2 MB for user data.
The operating system is GEOS 3.0.
The phone was used by Val Kilmer in the 1997 remake of The Saint.
Here's a breakdown of the phone's key features:
Our unit comes complete with operating instructions, an installation CD, and a power supply.
Models and Variations
The Nokia 9000 Communicator was the first of its kind, released in 1996 with a 4.5-inch monochrome STN display and 4 MB of accessible RAM. It was a game-changer in the world of mobile phones.
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The Communicator series saw several models released over the years, each with its own unique features. The Nokia 9110 Communicator, released in 1998, had a backlit monochrome STN display and 4 MB of accessible RAM.
Here's a breakdown of the main Communicator models:
The Nokia 9300 and 9300i, released in 2004, were similar to the Nokia 9500 but not marketed under the Communicator name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Nokia 9000 Communicator cost?
The Nokia 9000 Communicator initially cost around $800 in the USA and £1000 in the UK, pricing it out of reach for many users.
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