Nokia is known today as the largest manufacturer of mobile phones, having about 40 percent of the world market share in the second quarter of 2008. This company is even the reason why Finland is a prosperous country in which it is accounted for about 30 percent of the nation’s market capitalization. But Nokia had a really humble beginning-it all started in 1865.
Nokia’s Humble Beginning
In 1895, Fredrik Idestam established a wood-pulp mill, which is now known as the Nokia Corporation. It was first based in the south western Finland town called Tampere but was later relocated to Nokia town so that the company can use the Nokianvirta river. This river is believed to have better hydropower production. The river is where the company’s name, Nokia, originated.
Meanwhile, at the beginning of the 20th century, Finnish Rubber Works began establishing its factories. This company acquired the Nokia Wood Mills and also acquired a company producing telegraph and telephone cables, the Finish Cable Works. The merging of these three companies in 1967 led to the creation of the Nokia Corporation.
The new company tried producing many products like papers, bicycle, car tires, personal computers, footwear, communication cables, electricity generation machineries, televisions, aluminium, capacitors, and a lot more.
Shift to Mobile Communication Tools
Nokia started producing military as well as commercial mobile radio communications technology in the 1960s. It was in 1964 when the company started to create VHF-radio with Salora Oy. The two companies started to develop mobile phones for the NMT network standard. In 1982, they introduced their first car phone called the Mobira Senator, which weighted 9.8 kg.
In 1984, the merging with Salora Oy made the company to create its telecommunication branch named Nokia-Mobira Oy. In the same year, the company also launched the Mobira Talkman, the world’s first transportable phone.
Nokia introduced one of the world’s first handheld phones in 1987 and this was called Mobira Cityman 900. During those days, the Cityman is one of the most light-weight phones having only about 800 g. But its tag price is approximately 4,500 Euros. Although that was very expensive, Cityman was still considered a success.
The GSM Involvement
In 1988, Nokia Mobile Phone emerged from the Nokia Mobira Oy. After three years, the first Global Systems for Mobile Communications or GSM phone was introduced.
In 1992, the company decided to focus more on the telecommunications business. In the same year, Nokia launched its first GSM handset, which is the Nokia 1011. It was in 1994 that the Nokia tune was launched. It was the Nokia 2100 that featured this famous classic phone tune.
The success of Nokia continued until the world’s first satellite call was made in 1994 using a Nokia mobile phone. And in 1997, Nokia introduced a classic game highly associated with the company-Snake.
Finally, in 1998, Nokia mobile phones became the world’s leader. After a year, the company moved to further innovation with its launching of the first WAP handset in the world, the Nokia 7110.
Recent Success of Nokia
Nokia mobile phones continue to be one of the best and most innovative in the world. This was proven in 2002 with the company’s launching of Nokia 6650, its first 3G phone. The company even had its billion sales when it was able to sell billion units of Nokia 1100.
Nokia Corporation is also recognized in the world today as the fifth most valued brand.
From 1865 until today, Nokia continues to create mark on the mobile phone industry. Innovation is always at the top of this company and its history proved its fearless business moves that led it to its massive success.
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