Nokia 9210 Communicator The Ultimate Guide to Specs Features and Pricing

The Historical Context of Nokia 9210 Communicator

The Nokia 9210 Communicator was launched in a time when mobile technology was experiencing rapid growth and diversification. The year 2000 was an era characterized by the transition from basic mobile phones to multi-functional devices that offered users more than just voice calling capabilities. Nokia, a dominant player in the industry, was at the forefront of this transition. The 9210 Communicator was their response to the emerging trend of mobile communication convergence, incorporating elements that were revolutionary at the time.

Design and Build

The Nokia 9210 Communicator stood out with its clamshell design. It measured 158 x 56 x 27 mm and weighed approximately 244 grams. Despite being slightly heavier and larger than conventional phones, it was compact for a device offering PDA functions. The exterior housed a traditional phone keypad and a monochrome screen, while flipping it open revealed a full QWERTY keyboard and a sizable 4.5-inch color display with a resolution of 640 x 200 pixels.

The device was robustly built with the intention to cater to business professionals who needed a reliable mobile office solution. Its clamshell form factor also provided protection for the internal display and keyboard, ensuring durability and longevity.

Display

The internal TFT display of the Nokia 9210 Communicator supported 4096 colors, which was quite advanced for its time. The 4.5-inch screen provided ample real estate for document viewing and web browsing, a key selling point for business users. The resolution and color support, though modest by today's standards, offered clear and vibrant visuals that enhanced the user's multimedia and productivity experiences.

Performance and Software

Powering the Nokia 9210 Communicator was a 52 MHz ARM 9 processor. While this may seem underwhelming today, it was sufficient for running the Open Symbian OS, based on Symbian v6.0 and Series 80 UI. The operating system was the backbone of the 9210's functionality, supporting basic multitasking and a range of office and communication applications.

Applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, and a business card wallet were pre-installed, making the 9210 a potent tool for professionals on the go. The device also included a WAP and HTML browser, allowing rudimentary internet browsing capabilities rare for mobile devices at the time.

Memory and Storage

The device came with a slot for MMC cards, with a 16 MB card included. Though small by today's standards, this was adequate for the storage of essential documents and applications in the early 2000s. It allowed users to carry necessary files on the go, which was pivotal for maintaining productivity away from the office.

Communication Capabilities

The Nokia 9210 Communicator supported GSM 900/1800 bands, which enabled it to function in numerous markets worldwide. However, it lacked GPRS and EDGE, which were emerging data services at the time. This meant that while voice communication was seamless, data services were relatively limited.

Infrared connectivity was present, providing a means for data transfer between compatible devices, an important feature when other wireless methods were not widely available. Bluetooth, WLAN, and USB connectivity were absent, reflecting the technological limitations of the era.

Audio and Alerts

For audio, the 9210 supported downloadable monophonic and WAV ringtones. While it lacked a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm jack, these omissions were less critical given its primary focus on business rather than multimedia functions.

Power and Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery (BLL-3), the Nokia 9210 offered a stand-by time of up to 230 hours and a talk time of between 4 to 10 hours, depending on the network conditions. This battery life was relatively impressive for a device of its size and capabilities, ensuring users could remain productive throughout the day.

Conclusion: Legacy and Impact

The Nokia 9210 Communicator was a trailblazer in integrating mobile communications with personal digital assistant features. It set a precedent for the future development of smartphones by demonstrating the viability and appeal of combining multiple functionalities into a single portable device. Though now discontinued, its influence is evident in the smartphone landscapes that followed, where the integration of productivity tools transformed mobile phones into indispensable everyday companions.