Ericsson has finally stopped building tanks and started building jewelry. The T28s, released in late 1999, is a jaw-dropping piece of Swedish engineering that is only 15mm thick and weighs a mere 83g. Its party piece is the active flip, you press a tiny button on the side and the mouthpiece snaps op…
Motorola Timeport
If you’re the sort of person who spends more time in the departures lounge at Heathrow than in your own living room, the Motorola Timeport is the silver-clad savior you’ve been waiting for. Released in 1999, this is the first true “World Phone,” meaning it’s a tri-band GSM beast that can handle 900,…
Panasonic GD90
If you ever wanted a phone that felt like it might actually float away if you didn’t hold onto it tightly enough, the Panasonic GD90 is your huckleberry. Released in 1999, it is an exercise in Japanese minimalism that makes even the Nokia 8210 look a bit chunky. At 88g, it’s remarkably light, but th…
Nokia 3210
The year is 1999, and if you don’t have a Nokia 3210, you are officially a social pariah. This isn’t just a phone, it’s a cultural phenomenon that has finally killed off the protruding antenna, tucking it away inside the chassis for a sleek, “bar of soap” design that fits perfectly in a pair of Levi…
Motorola cd930
Motorola is back in the game with the cd930, a dual-band GSM beast that is built like a brick outhouse and features a display that actually knows what it’s doing. Released in 1998, this phone is a godsend for anyone on the Orange network, as it comfortably handles both 900 and 1800 MHz bands, ensuri…
Nokia 5110
If the Nokia 5110 hasn’t already taken over your office or your local pub, just give it a week. Released in 1998, this is the phone that has turned the mobile from a boring business tool into a legitimate fashion accessory. The secret? “Xpress-on” covers. For the first time, you can pop off the fron…
Nokia 6110
If you thought the 5110 was the business, the Nokia 6110 is here to remind you that you’re actually a professional, and professionals need infrared ports. Launched in 1998, this is the first handset to run on Nokia’s new DCT3 platform, powered by a 13 MHz ARM7 processor that makes the menu system fl…
Siemens S10
Hold the front page: color has finally arrived on the mobile phone, and it’s brought to you by the Germans. The Siemens S10, launched in 1997, is technically a landmark achievement as the world’s first mobile with a color display. Now, before you start imagining high-definition photos, let’s manage …
Nokia 3110
If you’ve ever found yourself squinting at a mobile screen and wondering which of the twenty identical buttons you’re supposed to press to find your mum’s number, the Nokia 3110 is here to save your sanity. Launched in early 1997, this isn’t just another black box; it’s the debut of the ‘Navi-Key’. …
Nokia 8110
Released in the tail end of 1996, the Nokia 8110, affectionately dubbed the “Banana Phone” for its prominent curvature, is Nokia’s first real attempt at a premium, design-led handset. While the rest of the market is obsessed with making things smaller, Nokia has gone for “ergonomic,” which is Finnis…