Here are eight mobile phones that changed the world
MOTOROLA DYNATAC (1973)
Motorola showed off a prototype of the world’s first mobile phone in 1973.But it was only in 1983 that the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X went on sale in the US at almost US$4,000 each. The handset weighed 794g, offered 30 minutes of talk-time, took around 10 hours to charge and could store 30 phone numbers.
MOTOROLA MICROTAC (1989)
With an improved 75-minute battery life, the smallest and lightest handset started a revolution in mobile phone design production. Its “flip” design set the standard for other phone brands and became the model for modern flip phones today.
NOKIA 8110 (1996)
It was the first of Nokia’s high-end 8000 series of phones and the first with a “slider” form factor. Its curved shape earned it the nickname “banana phone”. The handset was made famous in the 1999 movie, The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves.
NOKIA 3310 (2000)
The success of the 3210 led Nokia to create one of the most successful phones ever with millions of units sold worldwide: the indestructible 3310. Drop it on the floor and the battery and cover would probably pop off. Just put it back together and everything would be OK. One of Nokia’s most iconic devices, it prompted Nokia to relaunch the classic handset 17 years after its debut.
NOKIA N-GAGE (2003)
Before the rise of the mobile gaming industry, there was N-Gage. This mobile phone was also a handheld gaming device to lure gamers. Although Nokia promoted the product aggressively, it was deemed a failure because of its design and usability issues.
MOTOROLA RAZR V3 (2004)
With it razor-thin clamshell and sleek design, the RAZR V3 was undeniably the hottest-looking phone around. Boasting an aluminium body, the trend-setter was available in a multitude of colours and partnered with designer labels on special-edition versions. It became the bestselling flip phone to date with 130 million units sold.
SONY ERICSSON W800i (2005)
Sony’s first Walkman phone came bundled with a 512MB card, huge for the time, and premium in-ear buds. The handset was built for delivering great music and equipped with dedicated buttons for music playback. One could not miss the eye-watering orange colour scheme credentials on the phone.
APPLE IPHONE 3G (2007)
With the iPhone, Steve Jobs and Apple changed the way we communicate forever. It popularised applications with millions of consumers, helped make touchscreen interfaces the norm, and broke new ground for overall design and finish. It was more than just a gadget — it’s a handheld computer!
