Nokia 9000: The OG Smartphone?

Thirty years ago, on August 15, 1996, the Nokia 9000 Communicator was launched, making a strong case for being the first practical smartphone. Its design was revolutionary, resembling a large 1990s mobile phone that unfolded to expose a keyboard and a grayscale LCD screen, allowing users to perform tasks like sending emails and browsing the web.

The device was packed with cutting-edge technology for its era, including a 4.5-inch grayscale LCD, an Intel 386 processor, and 8MB of memory. Reviewers at the time marveled at its ability to combine a personal organizer with mobile internet access, fax capabilities, and email. Despite its limitations, like a small call history, the Communicator pushed the boundaries of phone technology.

Nokia's innovation, however, was not fully capitalized upon. While the Communicator paved the way for modern smartphones and even appeared in the 1997 movie 'The Saint', it struggled to sell well to general consumers due to its high price and bulky size. Ultimately, Apple's iPhone in 2007 achieved mass-market success by combining similar functionalities in an accessible package.