When the 1980s ended and the legendary nineties began, the most important change in human life was the introduction of mobile phones into daily life. Although they were quite large, heavy and cumbersome compared to the ones we use today, the first mobile phones suddenly became an object of desire with the sense of freedom they gave people and began to decorate the dreams of more and more people.
I remember the times when greeting cards were sent on New Year's Eve and other special days to communicate, letters were sent to TV shows and the whole program was watched in front of the TV to see if the presenters would read the letters sent, and often waited with disappointment for the next week's episode to air.
When people had a mobile phone, they could now talk to whomever they wanted, whenever they wanted, wherever they wanted and as much as they wanted, without being tied to any place with a cable.
The emergence of the first mobile phones and the milestones that improved the user experience
The real spread of mobile phones coincides with the mid-1990s. Mobile phones, which gradually became smaller in size and increased in functionality, evolved towards the end of this period into Swiss army knives that could be used not only to talk to someone anywhere in the city and at any time, but also to send messages and even play games.
These phones, which were initially seen as a magic box for many people, became more stylish, useful and durable, and at the same time, they turned into a kind of status symbol with the increase in the variety of brands and models. With each new model released by brands, a new convenience entered human life, communication methods were reshaped and mobile phones were no longer just a means of communication but an inseparable part of people's daily lives.
Important milestones were the communication between phones via infrared and Bluetooth, the emergence of the first primitive models with internet connection, and the transfer of very short photos and videos consisting of images and sounds to each other.
Nokia, a telecommunications brand that has even affected today, and its iconic products that have transcended the era
The Nokia brand, which operates in the field of telecommunications, which forms an inseparable whole with mobile phones and mobile phone technology, is a deep-rooted company with roots dating back to the 19th century. Although it is initially thought to be a Japanese brand, it took its current modern form in 1967 with the merger of three different companies. In 1979, it laid the foundations of its mobile phone unit with the Mobira brand and in 1981, it launched the world's first international cellular network, Nordic Mobile Telephone.
Nokia, which entered the mobile phone market that experienced a great leap in the 90s, prepared and experienced, launched the 5110 model, which is perhaps one of its best-selling models in its product portfolio, in 1998.
With its user-friendly design and changeable colored front covers, the 5110 was the most revolutionary thing that could be done at the time and inspired many brands and models that came after it.
The 5110 is an unforgettable and timeless icon, a milestone in the history of telecommunications worldwide. Its long-lasting popularity, robust construction, intuitive user interface, white keypads that were not used in any other model, the first generation of the legendary Snake game and a suite of pioneering technologies that set new standards in the mobile phone industry made the 5110 legendary.
The phone's robust case is ensured that the phone would withstand the rigors of everyday use and in many different conditions. It was inspiring that users could personalize their phones with covers and keypads in different colors and patterns, as well as being ergonomic. These covers, called Xpress-On, were quite innovative for their time and people really liked the idea of personalizing phones.
The menu that appeared on the clear and monochrome LCD screen was easy to navigate with the white keypad, which was widely spaced and extremely comfortable to use when dialing numbers and writing messages, and this was ideal for both experienced and first-time users.
The phone, which I can say has a very minimal design line when viewed today with the arrows on the white keypad, the large confirmation button and a C key with its own function, had a simple menu where you can make phone calls, call records, a menu for sending and receiving messages and all the settings related to the phone.
The most important thing to remember is the legendary Snake game and this game is probably the most important thing that supports Nokia being a popular phone and being bought and loved by more people.
Why did the Nokia 5110 become so popular?
With the widespread use of mobile phones, developments in telecommunications accelerated, and the 5510 model either already supported or was ready to support most of these technologies.
The most important technology among these was supported by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 5110, and thanks to this, it managed to leave its competitors behind in terms of voice quality and signal reliability.
Adopting GSM technology early on and launching products accordingly showed Nokia as a company that produced reliable devices for users switching from analog to digital, and strengthened its reputation.
In addition to its basic functions, the Nokia 5110 supported SMS; this feature was a revolution that would radically change communication habits worldwide. The capacity to save up to 250 contacts allowed users to effectively manage their contacts and increased practicality.
Even today, one of the most important criteria a consumer pays attention to when choosing a mobile phone, the concern about battery performance, was solved with a large battery attached to the back of the 5110. The battery, which can offer a standby time of more than ten days depending on use and promises a talk time of up to 4 hours without interruption, was remarkable in terms of providing uninterrupted communication for a day at a time when frequent charging of mobile phones was considered “normal” and caused an increase in interest in the 5110.
Its unique design and high performance ensured that Nokia’s legendary model was adopted by a wide audience, from young people to business professionals, and enabled the model to become a phenomenon on a global scale.
Therefore, even if we leave its technical features aside, the phone held an important place in popular culture and consumer sentiments. The model’s affordable price and high accessibility were the most important elements that supported Nokia’s becoming a dominant brand in the mobile phone market in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
5110: An icon in the telecom world
It would not be wrong to say that the Nokia 5110 has influenced the new generation of mobile phones in terms of design and functionality since the first day it was released. Today, the phone represents a nostalgic legacy; it is a symbol of a simple, reliable and user-focused mobile technology era.
Today, mobile phones are at the very center of our lives. We now handle talking, taking photos, listening to music and even shopping with our mobile phones. In this journey from the first large and bulky mobile phones to smartphones that fit in our pockets, we can actually see the change of technology and its effects on human life.
It is clear that the rise of Nokia's iconic models such as the 5110 has made the company a leader in the global market. Although Nokia, which tried to enter the smartphone market by replacing the local operating system that came with the phone with Symbian, offered advanced models such as the N95 and N96 to users in 2007 and 2008, it could not achieve the expected effect against the innovative products of its competitors such as Apple and Samsung.
Although it lost market share over time, Nokia's pioneering role in mobile communications and its innovative products left their mark on technology history.
The 2nd photo from: Aalto University Nokia Design Archive
