Nostalgic cell phones from the 2000s (Nokia)

In the 2000s, cell phones became popular, but they weren't smartphones like we see today. While they were innovative back then (even considered the pinnacle of technology, according to a certain movie...), nowadays most of them are called dumbphones. And it wasn't Apple or Samsung, but the mighty Nokia that dominated the sector. But let's take it one step at a time.

Hildegarde (2001)

In the 1990s, cell phones were already on the rise, becoming commonplace especially among businesspeople, but it wasn't until the 2000s that the general public began to have access. Unlike today, the product was considered an adult's thing, after all, why would a child want a device that was basically only good for making calls? Teenagers were also beginning to use them, mainly just to waste time with text messages.

The company responsible for the advent of the cell phone was Nokia, with its revolutionary Nokia 3310, known as the "brick" and released in 2000. This featured the classic Nokia Snake game. It could also send and receive SMS messages, had a music composer, an animated menu, and voice dialing.

Nokia 3310 (2000)

Nokia Snake

However, the company's best-selling phone, and in history, was the legendary Nokia 1100, manufactured from 2003 to 2009, with 250 million units sold. Its new features included chat support and screen rest, as well as a distinctive silicone keyboard.

Nokia 1100 (2003)

Also worth mentioning is the Nokia 1110, released in 2005 and bearing many similarities to its predecessor, but with the added bonus of polyphonic ringtones. In short, Nokia dominated the 2000s, with 15 new models available by 2008. Its success was such that it attempted to enter the console market with its N-Cage, released in 2003, but it failed to catch on.

N-Cage (2003)

But if there's one thing that set cell phones apart from the 2000s, and that remains so today, it's certainly their design. Each phone was unique, with brands striving to stand out from the rest. Unlike today's monotony, Motorola was one of the most prominent in this regard with its Motorola RAZR V3, an ultra-thin flip phone (the kind that opens and closes) with a laser-designed keyboard. Plus, it had a camera, something that wasn't yet so common. How could we forget that razor-sharp resolution?

Motorola RAZR V3 (2004)

Flip phones, in fact, would end up becoming one of the symbols of the decade. When you think of cell phones from the 2000s, flip phones are certainly the first to come to mind. There were popular examples like the Motorola U9 (from 2008), with its odd design; and the Nokia 2760, a very standard 2007 phone.

Motorola U9 (2008)

Nokia 2760 (2007)

Towards the end of the decade, cell phones with QWERTY keyboards began to become popular, especially from Blackberry, which controlled 20% of the cell phone market in 2009. One of its most popular models was the BlackBerry Bold 9700, released that same year and already featuring 3G internet, something that was slowly replacing 2G at the time. With this keyboard, digital typing was much easier than with the traditional numeric model.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 (2009)

Another company that also started investing in cell phones with this design was Samsung, although its most popular model was a conventional one: the Samsung E1100, launched in 2009 and selling more than 135 million units.

Samsung E1100 (2009)

But the world of cell phones isn't just about cell phones... Let's talk a little about trends; after all, different cell phones have different habits. For example, it was common to use keychains on the cell phone antenna.

Bluetooth was the main way to transfer files from one device to another. These files were usually GIFs and short videos. Some were funny, others were basically MySpace good morning messages. Speaking of which, it was common to pay to get a different GIF or wallpaper.

Type of video that was shared via Bluetooth

These various resources could also be obtained through the famous "text the word LOVE to 48022." Often, there would be a similar commercial on TV, usually from natta.com, offering things like jokes, games, X-rays, etc., and people would pay for them.

And what about the kids? Back then, the most they could have was a plastic Hanna Montana cell phone, and if you pressed any button, the only thing that would happen was the song "Butterfly."

*What ended it?

These phones remained common until around 2012, when modern smartphones (with touchscreens) surpassed them in sales. From then on, nothing was the same. Apps for everything, 24/7 connectivity, an addicted Alpha generation, high speeds, WhatsApp, performance comparable to a computer, phones all the same for astronomical prices, and multiple unnecessary cameras.

Despite all their potential, there's still a nostalgia for simpler times, when SMS and GIFs were a big thing, and companies competed to offer the most unique design and as many new features as possible.

#oldcellphones #nokianostalgia #2000s #cafevideo