The return of the Nokia Communicator with 5G and Android?
Harald Naumann
I help HW developers for wireless IoT devices to quickly integrate/adapt an antenna, increase range, reduce power consumption and achieve radio certification at low cost.
Today I'm taking you on a time travel to the clamshell phones of the nineties. Simultaneously, I introduce you to a 5G smart phone on Android 11 with a real keyboard. Enjoy the journey into the past.
Do you remember the Nokia Communicator in 1996?
The Nokia Communicator was a series of smart phones from the manufacturer Nokia. The first Communicator was introduced in 1996. It was one of the first smart phones and was characterised by its clamshell design. It had a full keyboard and a large, high-resolution display. The Communicator also had an integrated PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) function. Sending and receiving e-mails, managing appointments and contacts and accessing were supported. It used PEN/GEOS and later on the Symbian operating system. Moreover it offered a long battery life. The Communicator also excelled in robustness and durability, which made it a popular choice for business users.
Over the years, Nokia released several versions of the Communicator. These included the 9300, 9500 and E90 models. The Communicator range was discontinued in 2010. Nokia shifted its focus to other smart phone models and operating systems.
Clamshell phone Road S101 at the Funkausstellung 2006
Company ROAD GmbH from Germany released a device similar to the Nokia Communicator at the Funkausstellung 2006 in Berlin. There, Linux was used. A small office suite, multimedia tools for sound and video playback, mail, browser, calendar and other applications were shown. The range of functions was larger than with the Communicator. The idea was good, but the Road S101 never went into mass production.
Astro Slide 5G from Planet Computers in UK in 2023 at MWC in Barcelona
The mobile keyboard returns with the Astro Slide. Inspired by the palmtops and PDAs of the past, the Astro Slide has reinterpreted the clamshell form factor for modern smart phone users. Users get a full physical keyboard with the power of a pocket computer running Android and modern 5G. The Astro features Multi OS (Android 11+ Linux TBA), MediaTek Dimensity 800, 128GB Flash, 8GB RAM, 5G NR, LTE, WCDMA, GSM, Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi 5 (2T2R) 802. 11a/b/g/n/ac, fingerprint reader, NFC, accelerometer, compass, light Sensor, gyroscope, magneto-sensor, wireless charging, fast charging, AMOLED display, rear camera 48 MP SONY, front camera 13 MP, 2 nano SIM Slots, eSIM, mircoSD Slot and a lot of more. It offers much more features than the well known Nokia Communicator.
Unlike the Road S101 from 2006, the Astra Slide 5G is already mass-produced. On top of that, it is the second generation of a Chamshell phone from Planet Computers. With the Astro, you get an Android phone that has been enhanced with a keyboard. The manufacturer did not have to worry about application development. The complete Android eco-system is available. If you want, you can use the Linux on the Astro. There are 23 different keyboards. For me, there is a German version with our German Umlauts and QWERTZ keyboard. :-)
At the MWC in Barcelona, you can take a look at the Astro Slide 5G at the manufacturer Planet Computers Ltd, Hall 7, Stand 7A1. Planet Computers is a UK mobile handset and network appliance manufacturer behind the award-winning Gemini PDA, Cosmo Communicator and the new Astro Slide.
For full specification: https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/devices-specification
To buy now: https://store.planetcom.co.uk/products/astro-slide
My IoT M2M Times readers and followers get a 5% discount with the discount code "Handy5".
If you are interested in consulting, antenna design or the cool IoT SIM cards from Crout, you can meet the Crout team in Barcelona. Enquiries are welcome at harald.naumann (at) lte-modem.com or harald.naumann (at) crout.eu
Imprint
- Harald Naumann, Ludwig-Kaufholz-Weg 4, 31535 Neustadt, Germany
- Contact: harald.naumann (at) lte-modem.com, Phone: +49-5032 801 9985, Mobile:+49-152-33877687
ob mein Astro jemals ankommt..? ich warte seit Jahren..
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4moThe concept with a hardware keyboard in different language layouts is exactly what I need after a lot of Nokia Communicators. I had a Cosmo Communicator with an old Android 9 with no update possibility. So I ordered an Astro Slide 5 G in March 2023 which I got in April 2023. I sent it back to Planet Computers some days later due to different hardware problems after some Mail-Tennis. Now it is Christmas 2023 and only a confirmation of receipt of that Astro Slide 5 G as reaction of Planet Computers. Planet Computers doesn't like to react to a lot of mails. They have my phone and my money as well. Either they are no more existing on the market or they have changed the business model to collecting money without providing the prepaid goods to the customers? To be honest, Android 15 now is state of the art and Astro has old fashioned Android 12 only. I hope by heart that there is a more reliable producer of such phones available on the market.
Electronics Design, Embedded Software Development, Product Development, Creating New Electronics Products that are Made in Australia, Electronics Manufacturing
1yNot an IoT device because it is primarily intended for human communications. Our first real IoT project we were involved in was in 1998 in Australia using Telstra mobile data to connect machine condition and location monitoring to a server for management of container handling equipment at container terminals. That was primarily IoT through a display to send messages to drivers was added later. It will be interesting to see what take up for these 5G communicators is like and which age groups this most appeals to. To I have my theory. Informative as ever Harald Naumann.
IT Team Manager • Service Delivery Manager - Project Manager Sr. • Infraestructura • Migraciones/Mudanzas • HA/DRP • Gestión de Auditorías y Riesgos
1yThis cell phone was the greatest object of desire for me at the time, it was always unattainable due to its cost. How pleasant I remember this post, thank you very much.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer at WND Brasil | Sigfox Operator
1yThe Industrial design was done by the same designer of the Psion Series 5. A beauty if you need a small keyboard, useful and pleasant to use