Tech Throwback: Nokia 5100 Series

Its that time of the week I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. I’m going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. A stroll down memory lane with the phone everyone and everyone’s mom had. The Nokia 5100 series

The Original Nokia 5100 Series

Nokia 5100 Series is a Nokia GSM mobile phone model that was consuming the US market in 1998.  The main culprit of this explosion of tech was The Nokia 5110 was rugged, had excellent battery life, and featured an 84 by 48 pixel monochrome LCD with four LED back lights, operated by the Philips PCD8544 display controller.  This was also one of the first mobile phones to feature the game Snake. It became one of the most popular phones of its era. The Nokia 5110 was discontinued in 2001, replaced by other smaller and lighter device

It Was Free!

The big reason for the massive success of this Nokia 5100 series is the fact the carriers where forcing down out throats for free, or $.01 with a 2 year contract. Great right? will not so much the $250 subsidy cost built in to the cost of your plan at $25 a month was hardly a good deal. We didn’t care, everyone had one and everyone else was envious.

Customization of  Faceplates

The Nokia 5100 series was one of the first mobile telephones with a replaceable faceplate. Nokia called them “express plates” . This was a concept they incorporated into several other consumer-oriented cellphones aimed at the young adult market, allowing users to customize their device. I was big on this, I was the guy that would “pimp out your phone”. People across town would pay me to make their phones “da bomb”. With about $3 in parts from china I could replace your phones face plate with a glow in the dark face, add a light up led antenna and a vibrating clear battery and add a few of the hottest ringtones. It was all the rage of 1999- 2001 and I would charge up to $50 for this service. It was a new century and I was flush with success.

The Final Though

Basic as fudge. Nokia 5100 series, It’s the original basic. Text was a coming soon feature, it could call and program up to 50 numbers in your phone book that is it. Not only could you make or receive a call anywhere you are but because of its success and desirable price point every one could. Thus the cell generation was born and like that answering machines died over night. Tune in next week when we talk about the tape based answering machine.