Nokia device of the decade

– With the end of the decade drawing close, we’ve been pondering what Nokia device we would highlight as the defining device of the decade. Which one stands out amongst all others, from the last 10 years. Before we got very far though, we had a bit of a scuffle on what constitutes a device of the decade. Is it the features it boasts? Is it the dawning of new technology? Or a shift in price? There are plenty of things you can use to define it, it can be totally subjective, or totally objective. Problem is, we’re not sure what it should be.

If we look at features alone, then we’re instantly shepherding ourselves into the smartphone corner. That’s fine, until we consider something like the Nokia 1100, which is one of the biggest selling devices Nokia has ever produced. It was also one of the cheapest, and one that probably boasts the fewest features, at least when compared against a smartphone. Still, it was the 1 billionth phone Nokia sold and at its peak boasted no less than 200 million users.

This year alone we’ve seen a bunch of devices pushing down the price barrier, bringing the concept of connecting people to an even broader audience. These devices, such as the Nokia 1280, are breaking new barriers in affordability, and consequently availability for new mobile users. More recently we have the 2710 navigation edition, which brings navigation and location based services to a new group of users – one that would never have been able to consider navigation as an affordable option previously.

Bringing in new technology can also make a difference. MP3, cameras, Wi-Fi and connectivity all made a big impact in the last 10 years. Does that make the devices which first boasted those technologies as eligible winners? We rarely see a new technology take off on the first iteration, it’s the widespread adoption which follows on later devices where users really start to take notice. Does that then rule new technology out of the equation?

There’s probably stuff we haven’t even argued about yet, such as materials, which can also influence the decision. They might be less important than technology or features, but for things that we hold in our hands, and live in our pockets and purses, the materials they’re made of can make a big difference. Whether it’s the finished design, or durability, is a material alone enough to warrant such an outstanding gong?