Nokia 9000 Series Communicator: Complete Guide — 9000, 9110, 9210, 9300, 9500 and the History of the Smartphone Before the Smartphone 2026
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Eleven years before the iPhone, Nokia had already created the smartphone concept — a phone that opens like a book to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard and a functioning pocket computer. The 9000 Series Communicator began in 1996 with the Nokia 9000 — the first smartphone in history — and ended in 2007 with the Nokia E90, the last Communicator. Between these two milestones, five generations of devices redefined what a phone could be. This is the most complete guide ever written in English on the entire Nokia 9000 Series Communicator — the chapter that completes the story already told in our E90/E-Series guide.
1. The History of the 9000 Series Communicator
What Was a "Communicator"
A Nokia Communicator was a clamshell device: closed, it worked as a normal mobile phone with an external numeric keypad and small monochrome display; opened horizontally like a book, it revealed a full QWERTY keyboard and a much larger internal display — transforming into a portable mini-computer with email, fax, web browsing, and a calendar.
Then-Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila said in 2012, reflecting on the first Communicator: "We were five years ahead."
The Complete Timeline — Eleven Years, Five Generations
| Generation | Model | Year | Operating system | Main change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nokia 9000/9000i | 1996 | PEN/GEOS 3.0 on ROM-DOS, Intel 386 | The first — revolutionary concept |
| 2nd | Nokia 9110/9110i | 1998 | GEOS on ROM-DOS, AMD 486 | Lighter, faster, WAP (9110i) |
| 3rd | Nokia 9210/9210i | 2001/2002 | Symbian OS 6.0, Series 80 v1.0 | First Symbian, first colour display |
| 4th | Nokia 9300/9300i | 2004 | Symbian OS, Series 80 | More compact, redesigned |
| 5th | Nokia 9500 | 2004 | Symbian OS 7.0s, Series 80 v2.0 | WiFi, camera, last "true" Communicator |
| Final heir | Nokia E90 | 2007 | Symbian OS 9.2, S60 3rd Edition | The last, already covered in our E-Series guide |
Eleven years of evolution: from the Nokia 9000 (1996) to the Nokia E90 (2007) is exactly 11 years — an entire technological generation contained within a single product line, going from an Intel 386 at 24 MHz to an ARM11 at 330 MHz sharing its GPU with the Nokia N95.
2. Nokia 9000/9000i Communicator — The First Smartphone in History (1996)
Announced: CeBIT 1996 (Germany) | Available: 15 August 1996 | Predecessor: Nokia 2170
The Nokia 9000 is universally recognised as the first smartphone in history — the device that invented the category eleven years before the iPhone.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Networks | GSM 900 |
| Dimensions | 173×64×38 mm |
| Weight | 397 g |
| Processor | Intel 386 (later upgraded to AMD Elan SC450 486 at 33 MHz in the 9000i variant) |
| Operating system | PEN/GEOS 3.0 on ROM-DOS (PDA side) |
| Memory | 8 MB total — 4 MB OS/applications, 2 MB program execution, 2 MB user data |
| Expandable storage | MMC card |
| Display | Monochrome partially graphic LCD |
| Main applications | Fax, SMS, email, Smart Messaging, TextWeb, web browser, serial terminal, Telnet, contacts, notes, calendar, calculator, world clock, composer |
The Nokia 9000 in "The Saint" (1997)
The Nokia 9000 Communicator appeared in the film "The Saint" (1997) starring Val Kilmer — one of the earliest examples of a "smartphone" device in a Hollywood film, years before the concept was familiar to the general public.
1996-1997 Recognition
The Nokia 9000 Communicator won the GSM World Award for Innovation at the GSM World Conference 1997 — one of the first industry recognitions for what we would today call a "smartphone".
Why it was revolutionary: in 1996 no other device in the world combined a GSM phone, fax, email, web browser and PDA in a single pocket device (though "pocket" was generous for a 397-gram device). The Nokia 9000 literally opened the door to mobile internet before "mobile internet" was a widespread concept.
👉 View Nokia 9000 Communicator available at Infosate
3. Nokia 9110/9110i Communicator — Half the Weight, Double the Reach (1998)
Announced: March 1998, CeBIT Hannover | Predecessor: Nokia 9000
The Nokia 9110 was the generational leap that made the Communicator a mass product for professionals.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions closed | 158×56×27 mm |
| Weight | 253 g — almost half the 9000's 397g |
| Processor | AMD Elan SC450 486 at 33 MHz — upgrade from the Intel 386 |
| Operating system | GEOS on ROM-DOS (same as the 9000) |
| Internal display | 4.5", 640×200 px, monochrome 16 shades of grey, backlit |
| Memory | 8 MB total (same configuration as the 9000) |
| Battery | 1100 mAh |
| US launch price | ~$1000 (~$2000 today) |
The 100-Million Milestone
By the end of 1998 the Nokia 9110 had contributed to the milestone of 100 million Nokia units sold — a figure showing how quickly the Communicator concept was spreading among professionals.
Nokia 9110i — WAP Arrives on the Communicator
The 9110i variant added a WAP browser — downloadable from the Nokia website, allowing 9110 owners to stay current without replacing the entire device. A rare early example of "software update extends product life" already in 1998-1999.
The 9110's legacy: according to many technology analysts, the influence of the 9110's clamshell design with QWERTY keyboard is visible in every folding phone produced since — including modern Samsung and Huawei foldables.
👉 View Nokia 9110 Communicator available at Infosate
4. Nokia 9210/9210i Communicator — The Symbian Revolution (2001)
Announced: 21 November 2000 | Available: June 2001 | Third generation
The Nokia 9210 represents the most drastic change in the history of the 9000 Series — the complete abandonment of GEOS/ROM-DOS in favour of Symbian OS, and the transition from monochrome to colour.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Networks | EGSM 900/1800 + HSCSD (43.2 kbit/s) |
| Dimensions | 158×56×27 mm |
| Weight | 244 g |
| Processor | 32-bit ARM9, 52 MHz — upgrade from the previous generation's 16-bit |
| Operating system | Symbian OS 6.0, Series 80 v1.0 — first Symbian in the 9000 Series |
| Memory | 14 MB applications + 2 MB user |
| Expandable storage | MultiMediaCard 16 MB |
| Battery | BLL-3, 1300 mAh |
| Internal display | 4096 colours, 640×200 px LCD — first colour display in the series |
| External display | Monochrome |
Symbian Series 80 — The "Communicator" Branch of Symbian
Symbian OS had two main UI branches:
- Series 60 (S60) — for "normal" phones (later Nokia N-Series, E-Series)
- Series 80 (S80) — exclusively for Communicators, optimised for landscape displays and QWERTY
A third branch, UIQ, was used by Sony Ericsson in its P800/P900.
Nokia 9210i — The 2002 Update
The 9210i variant (2002) increased internal memory to 40 MB and introduced video streaming and Flash 5 support in the web browser — multimedia capabilities unthinkable on a phone just a couple of years earlier.
9210 = first Communicator-smartphone: according to many technology historians, the Nokia 9210 is the first Communicator that truly deserves the term "smartphone" in the modern sense — real multitasking OS, colour display, installable applications.
👉 View Nokia 9210 Communicator available at Infosate
5. Nokia 9300/9300i Communicator — The Compact Communicator (2004)
Year: 2004 | Fourth generation | Predecessor: Nokia 9210/9210i
The Nokia 9300 represented a philosophy shift: for the first time in the series' history, Nokia produced a Communicator smaller and more compact than the previous model — recognising that many users wanted Communicator power in a more portable format.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform | Nokia Series 80, Symbian OS |
| Networks | GPRS, EDGE |
| Dimensions | 132×51×21 mm — significantly more compact than predecessors |
| Expandable storage | MultiMediaCard |
| Battery | 970 mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, IrDA |
| WiFi | Only on 9300i |
| Internal display | 640×200 px |
| Speakerphone | Activates automatically on opening |
How the Nokia 9300 Works
Closed, the 9300 works as a normal phone — slightly bulky but usable with one hand. Opened, it transforms into a mini-notebook with 640×200 display and full keyboard — the speakerphone activates automatically on opening, allowing calls to continue hands-free while typing.
The 9300 Variants
| Variant | Difference |
|---|---|
| 9300 | Base version |
| 9300i | + WiFi |
| 9300b | Regional variant (successor to 9290) |
The 9300 was the direct predecessor of the Nokia E61 — the line already covered in our E-Series guide. This creates a direct connection: 9300 → E61 → E61i → (in parallel) E90 as the last true Communicator.
👉 View Nokia 9300 Communicator available at Infosate
6. Nokia 9500 Communicator — The Last True Communicator Before the E90 (2004)
Announced: 24 February 2004 | Available: November 2004 | Fifth and penultimate generation
The Nokia 9500 was the last Communicator of the "classic" Series 80 line before the final transition to the E90 (S60 3rd Edition) in 2007. It introduced WiFi and a camera — features the 9300 lacked.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform | Symbian OS 7.0s, Series 80 v2.0 |
| Processor | Texas Instruments OMAP, 150 MHz |
| RAM | 64 MB SDRAM |
| Networks | GPRS, EDGE |
| WiFi | 802.11b — first Communicator with WiFi |
| Camera | Yes (absent on the 9300) |
| Expandable storage | MultiMediaCard |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, IrDA, WiFi |
9500 vs 9300 — Key Differences
| Nokia 9300 | Nokia 9500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | More compact | Larger |
| WiFi | 9300i only | Yes, always |
| Camera | No | Yes |
| CPU | — | TI OMAP 150 MHz |
| RAM | — | 64 MB |
The Bridge to the E90
The Nokia 9500 is the direct technological predecessor of the Nokia E90 Communicator (2007) — already covered in detail in our Nokia E-Series guide. The E90 brought the Communicator concept onto the S60 3rd Edition platform with an 800×352 internal display, GPS and HSDPA — closing eleven years of evolution that began with the Nokia 9000.
The complete line at a glance: Nokia 9000 (1996, Intel 386, 397g) → 9110 (1998, AMD 486, 253g) → 9210 (2001, first colour Symbian) → 9300 (2004, compact) → 9500 (2004, WiFi+camera) → E90 (2007, last, S60 3rd, GPS+HSDPA, already covered in our E-Series guide).
👉 View Nokia 9500 Communicator available at Infosate
7. Nokia 9000 Series Communicator Secret Codes
Nokia 9000/9000i, 9110/9110i (GEOS/ROM-DOS)
These pre-Symbian models use the classic Nokia code system on the GSM side (the phone part, separate from the GEOS PDA side):
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
*#06# |
IMEI |
*#0000# |
Software version (phone side) |
*#92702689# |
Warranty Data (where supported) |
Important note: on GEOS Communicators, secret codes work on the phone side (when the device is closed and used as a normal phone). The PDA/GEOS side has its own separate menu and settings system, accessible only with the Communicator open.
Nokia 9210/9210i, 9300/9300i, 9500 (Symbian Series 80)
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
*#06# |
IMEI |
*#0000# |
Firmware version — SW version, build date, type |
*#92702689# |
Life Timer — total call hours |
*#2820# |
Bluetooth MAC address |
*#62209526# |
WiFi MAC address (9300i, 9500) |
*#7370# |
Format/Hard reset ⚠️ |
*#7780# |
Soft reset |
How to Format a Symbian Communicator (9210/9300/9500)
Standard method: *#7370# from closed phone, security code (default 12345)
Physical keys method (most thorough, like N-Series/E-Series): power off → hold green key + * + 3 → power on while holding the keys → release at Nokia logo → enter 12345
8. Complete 9000 Series Communicator Comparison
| Model | Year | Weight | CPU | OS | Internal display | WiFi | Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9000/9000i | 1996 | 397 g | Intel 386 → AMD 486 | GEOS/ROM-DOS | Mono partial | No | No |
| 9110/9110i | 1998 | 253 g | AMD 486 33MHz | GEOS/ROM-DOS | 4.5" mono 640×200, 16 grey | No | No |
| 9210/9210i | 2001/02 | 244 g | ARM9 52MHz | Symbian S80 v1 | 4096 colours 640×200 | No | No |
| 9300/9300i | 2004 | — | — | Symbian S80 | 640×200 | 9300i only | No |
| 9500 | 2004 | — | TI OMAP 150MHz | Symbian S80 v2 | 640×200 | Always | Yes |
| E90 (already covered) | 2007 | 210 g | ARM11 330MHz | S60 3rd | 800×352 | Yes | Yes |
9. 9000 Series Communicator Collector Value 2026
| Model | Good condition | Mint with box |
|---|---|---|
| Nokia 9000/9000i | €80-180 | €250-500 |
| Nokia 9110/9110i | €60-130 | €180-350 |
| Nokia 9210/9210i | €50-100 | €130-250 |
| Nokia 9300/9300i | €40-80 | €100-200 |
| Nokia 9500 | €45-90 | €110-220 |
Most valuable models:
- Nokia 9000/9000i original — the first smartphone in history, museum piece, especially with original box and accessories (cellular modem, manual)
- Nokia 9110i — WAP variant, enormous historical legacy (100 million Nokia units sold by 1998)
- Nokia 9210 — first Symbian, first colour — the "bridge" between two technological eras
- Nokia 9500 with working WiFi and camera — the last "true" Communicator pre-E90
10. How to Check a Used 9000 Series Communicator
For GEOS models (9000, 9110):
*#06#— verify IMEI on the phone side- Open the Communicator — verify the hinge opens without snapping or unusual resistance
- Test the internal display — on the 9110 check the 16 grey shades, working backlight
- Test the QWERTY keyboard — type on every key, verify response
- Check the battery — on devices this old the original battery is often dead or swollen: inspect visually before inserting
For Symbian models (9210, 9300, 9500):
*#06#+*#0000#— IMEI and firmware*#92702689#— life timer- Colour display test — verify colour uniformity, no dead pixels on the 640×200 screen
- On 9300i/9500:
*#62209526#for WiFi MAC - On 9500: test the camera
11. Why the 9000 Series Matters to Collectors Today
The 9000 Series Communicator isn't just nostalgia — it represents the documented origin of the smartphone concept. For serious technology history collectors, owning an original 1996 Nokia 9000 is equivalent to owning the "first specimen" of a product category worth trillions of dollars globally today.
Jorma Ollila's statement — "we were five years ahead" — wasn't exaggeration: the concept of "a phone that also does email, fax, web browsing and has a full keyboard" wouldn't become mainstream until the BlackBerry (early 2000s) and then the iPhone (2007) — exactly the year Nokia closed the Communicator line with the E90.
Original Nokia 9000 Series Communicator at Infosate
At Infosate you'll find a selection of original Nokia 9000 Series Communicator phones — 9000, 9110, 9210, 9300, 9500 and other Communicator line models, all verified before shipping. For the last Communicator in history, the Nokia E90, see our dedicated Nokia E-Series guide.