The Mobira Talkman

Meet The One Car Phone That Gives You Full Performance Without The Car...

The Mobira Talkman was released in 1984, and, after the first mobile phone call in England in 1985, we discover this trendy beast available "over here" in a 1986 magazine advertisement. Hefty, eh?

For the full '80s Actual low-down on 1980s mobies, simply click on the "mobile phones" label below.

The 1987 Nokia Cityman - Yup, Yup, Yup...

Overheard in a pub, c. 1987...

Two yuppies, one male, one female, were discussing pets. The male yuppie had a Nokia Cityman or similar on the table in front of him.

Male yuppie: "I love my tortoise. A friend since childhood."

Female yuppie: "Oh, I prefer cats to tortoises, James."

She eyed his brick, longingly.

"Of course, what I REALLY need is a cell phone..."

NMT, the world's first international cellular mobile telephone network, had opened in Scandinavia in 1981. In 1987, the Nokia Mobira Cityman, the world's first NMT hand portable, and Nokia's very first hand held mobile phone, was launched.

"Yuppie toys! What do they want mobile phones for? Ridiculous! Haven't they ever heard of phone boxes?!"
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A Nokia Cityman in its box, which had a small plastic handle so, if desired, phone and charger could easily be carried around together.

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Above the cover to the Nokia Mobira Cityman instruction manual - the 1988 edition. Note the yellow, red and grey design - reflecting the 1980s trend for contrasting bright and dull colours. Below, selected pages from the manual.

 

The Mobira Senator, Nokia's first mobile, a not-actually-terribly-mobile car phone, was released in 1982. I'm not sure when (or if) it first appeared in England. 

It was around 1987 that I first set eyes on a hand held mobile phone. Initially, I was most impressed - amazing - imagine being able to phone people wherever you might be! This went on for a year or so, then I decided they looked rather like walkie talkies, and, judging by the number of yuppies stalking out of the pub with their bricks because the reception was lousy inside, they didn't seem that great.

So my fascination faded.

Mobiles later shrank, went digital, became dirt cheap and all singing, all dancing, but I still don't have one. I like to be away from the phone when I'm out, there's no need for me to have a mobile, so I don't.

Having been left behind, I still find myself thinking of them as "yuppie toys" at times! That's what we called them in the late 1980s.

For all its sophisticated appeal back in 1987, the Nokia Cityman was basically a clonking great brick. So when did mobile phones start to shrink? See here for more...

For captures from a 1988 television advertisement for Eagle Star investment plans, starring

Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder) and the Nokia Cityman see here. 

Go back to the unveiling of the first commercially available hand held mobile phone EVER here.

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Rowan Atkinson and Nokia Cityman Star in TV Ad

This ad for Eagle Star investment plans dates from 1988 and starred Rowan Atkinson - old Blackadder himself, as Captain Kidd, the pirate. It also starred that technological marvel of 1987 - the Nokia Cityman mobile phone!

The voice-over explained:

This man made a lot of money, travelled the world...

... became a huge success by persuading complete strangers to give him their valuables.

Unfortunately for Captain Kidd, Eagle Star weren't around at the time, so he put his money into an obscure off-shore tax haven. And when he came back, he found he'd lost the lot.

[Andy explains: Captain Kidd's men buried it on this beach, and when Captain Kidd later came back for it, he couldn't find it!].

Take care of your treasure - ask your financial advisor about Eagle Star's investment plans. Because with Eagle Star you can face the future with confidence.

And here's the Nokia Cityman - with skull and crossbones flag for an aerial.

How outlandish mobile phones seemed back then...

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