Introduction
Currently, there are so many companies manufacturing mobile handsets. However, mobile handsets from Nokia Corporation are the most dominant in the market. Statistics released in 2008 revealed Nokia as the leading manufacturer of mobile phones with a global market share of 40 percent. In fact, experts retort that Nokia is the reason why Finland is successful economically accounting 30 percent of Finland’s market capitalization.
Origin of Nokia
The origin of Nokia dates back to 1865, after an engineer, Fredrick Idestam, commenced a wood-pulp mill in southern Finland. His intention was to manufacture paper to meet the growing industrial and commercial need. However, due to the nature of the mill in terms of power consumption, Fredrick Idestam relocated the mill to Nokia town near Nokianvirta River characterised with superior hydropower production.
Over a period o f time, the usefulness of Nokianvirta River led to the origin of the company name, Nokia. Early in the 20th century, the giant Finish Rubber Works decided to expand its territories of production by acquiring new factories. Among the very many companies acquired by Finnish Rubber Works, include Nokia Wood Mills and Finish Cable works- a firm that initially manufactured telegraph and telephone cables.
In 1967, the three companies amalgamated to form a new production entity, Nokia Corporation. Nokia Corporation manufactured different commodities for example, papers, personal computers, communication cables capacitors and footwear. In addition, the new company, Nokia Corporation also manufactured bicycles, car tires televisions and electricity generation equipments (Nokia Corporation. p.1).
Shift to Mobile Communication Tools
The shift to mobile communication tools started in 1960s with the production of martial and mercantile mobile radio communication equipments. For instance, in 1964, Nokia Corporation collaborated with Salora Oy to manufacture a VHF radio. The continued collaboration between these two manufacturing companies led to the development of mobile phones operating under the standards of NMT network. This did not stop here either.
In 1982, Nokia Corporation and Salora Oy manufactured a 9.8kg car phone, Mobira Senator, bringing more attention into the world of communication. Two years later, the two firms merged to form a new telecommunication firm, Nokia-Mobira Oy. The merging of the two companies came as a surprise to many with the instigation of the world’s first portable phone, Mobira Talkman. The new company embarked on research and in 1987, Nokia launched the first handled phone, Mobira Cityman 900.
Nokia’s involvement into the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) trace back to 1988 when a new company, Nokia Mobile Phone surfaced from the amalgamated Nokia Mobira Oy. This company laid more emphasis in the production of telecommunication equipments such as GSM handsets. In 1992, Nokia Mobile Phone launched its first GSM phone, Nokia 1011.
However, it took two more years to come up with the Nokia tune, a classic phone tune that started with the launch of Nokia 2100. Nokia continued to conquer the world with new GSM handsets and in 1994, experts managed to make a satellite call using a Nokia handset.
Moreover, Nokia became the first handset manufacturing company to introduce new features in their handsets for example, the classic game. In 1998, Nokia had grown into one of the biggest global handset manufacturing company, in fact, a global leader in GSM handsets. In 1999, Nokia Mobile Phone introduced the world’s first WAP phone, Nokia 7110 marking anew are of communications (Stolle, p.1).
Conclusion
So far, Nokia mobile handsets seem the most pioneering and preeminent in the world. Perhaps this is the main reason why many people prefer Nokia handsets to others. The 2002 launching of the earliest 3G phone, Nokia 6650, is a sure test of Nokia’s innovativeness. Up to date, Nokia has managed to sell billion sales of its products making it the fifth most appreciated brand in the world.
Since its inception, Nokia has managed to leave an indelible imprint in the mobile phone industry, something that is not going to stop any soon. With innovation as the pillar of success, Nokia projects towards greater heights of success.
Works Cited
Nokia Corporation. Nokia in Brief. 2008. Web.
Stolle, Sarah. The History of Nokia Company. 2006. Web.