Nokia Launches The Nokia 9000 Communicator For DCS 1800 Standards

(March 12, 1997) Nokia today announced the introduction of the DCS 1800 (PCN) version of the award-winning Nokia 9000 Communicator, the world’s first all-in-one communications device. The Nokia 9000 Communicator for DCS 1800 networks will be commercially available in April.

The DCS 1800 standard is based on digital GSM technology, and it is especially designed for densely populated areas with a large number of cellular subscribers. At the moment, there are 11 operators offering DCS 1800 services, and more networks will be opened in the near future.

The Nokia 9000 Communicator for GSM networks was introduced last year and sales first started in August 1996. The Nokia 9000 Communicator is in volume production and is currently sold in some 30 GSM countries in Europe and Asia.

- We believe that with the launch of the Nokia 9000 Communicator DCS 1800 operators have a great opportunity to serve totally new customer segments. Typical customers for the Nokia 9000 Communicator are managers and sales personnel, large corporate organizations or vertical market groups. In addition, there has been considerable interest from companies to optimize the Nokia 9000 Communicator to serve their specific needs, says Mr. Reijo Paajanen, Senior Vice President, Wireless Data, Nokia Mobile Phones.

The DCS 1800 version of the Nokia 9000 Communicator has the same advanced functionality as the GSM version: it combines digital voice and data services and personal organizer functions into a single, compact and easy-to-use unit.

The Nokia 9000 Communicator is far more than a full-featured digital phone. In addition to voice calls, it enables the user to send and receive faxes, e-mail and short messages as well as access Internet services and corporate and public databases. Other applications include an electronic calendar, address book, notepad and calculator.

All the applications in the Nokia 9000 Communicator - phone, fax, address book, e-mail, Internet, Short Message Service - have the same innovative user interface. The applications work together and can be accessed with the push of a button. When the keyboard is closed, the Communicator can be used as a digital cellular phone. When the Communicator’s keyboard is open, the speakerphone activates, allowing the user to view documents from the LCD screen while speaking.

The Nokia 9000 Communicator was developed in collaboration with Geoworks, who provided the operating system platform, and Intel, who supplied the processor and flash memory used in the product.

The Nokia 9000 Communicator provides up to 130 minutes of talk, fax or data time, or up to 30 hours of standby time. If the phone is switched off, the Communicator will standby for a week without being recharged. Data will not be lost even if the main battery runs out.

During the past year the Nokia 9000 Communicator has received numerous awards, most recently the GSM World Award for Innovation presented at the GSM World Conference in Cannes, France, in February.