The Nokia 1100 didn't feel as stiff and tough as the Nokia 3210. But it was a very sturdy phone, even though it's plastic had a soft feel to it. It was a phone designed for developing countries and hence Nokia had used several techniques to make it durable. One of these techniques was the use of rubber keyboard instead plastic keys. The rubber membrane all over the keyboard gave the phone limited protection against dust, sweat and water, which is very important in a country like India. The rubbery part was more resistant to scratches compared to the tough plastic that companies used on other phones. The soft rubbery feel also made the phone feel better in hands. The durability of the phone was amply highlighted in that iconic truck advertisement where the phone was left hanging in front of the vehicle. At the end of the journey, we see the phone survive without a scratch.
It came with a torch
This was a killer feature of the Nokia 1100. In a country like India where power supply was (and is) an issue, the Nokia 1100 was an instant hit owing to its in-built torchlight. As the truck advertisement explained, it was a phone that was supposed to work even at night. "Is mein torch kyon hai," asks the helper. "Kyonki ye raat ko bhi chalta hai," says the driver as he stops his truck to rest at night. Nothing more was needed to be said. Indians were sold out on the Nokia 1100.
It is the bestselling phone of all time
Nokia has sold over 250 million units of the Nokia 1100. This is a huge number. It became ubiquitous in the rural areas of India and in parts of Africa. No wonder then that when Nokia sold its one billionth phone, it was the Nokia 1100. In comparison, around 160 million units of the Nokia 3210 have been sold.
It was made for people who never used a phone earlier
The real reason why Nokia 1100 is the greatest phone ever made is its positioning in the market. It was priced low - less than Rs 5,000 - and it offered people a hassle-free experience. Everything in the phone was tuned to make the first time users comfortable. It had a very easy-to-use interface, allowed people to call by pressing a single key, had an option to change font size, offered battery life that was legendary and came with cool features like the torch. It even offered people some customisation options, if they wished to change the looks of their phone. Best of all, it offered an extremely reliable service. The call quality on this phone was fantastic and typing on its rubbery keys was extremely easy.
By today's standards the Nokia 1100 may look dated - though it is still more durable and offers better battery life than smartphones - but in 2003, the phone was a complete package in a design that was very likeable. No wonder, 12 years later after its launch, it is the best smartphone ever made.
This was a killer feature of the Nokia 1100. In a country like India where power supply was (and is) an issue, the Nokia 1100 was an instant hit owing to its in-built torchlight. As the truck advertisement explained, it was a phone that was supposed to work even at night. "Is mein torch kyon hai," asks the helper. "Kyonki ye raat ko bhi chalta hai," says the driver as he stops his truck to rest at night. Nothing more was needed to be said. Indians were sold out on the Nokia 1100.
It is the bestselling phone of all time
Nokia has sold over 250 million units of the Nokia 1100. This is a huge number. It became ubiquitous in the rural areas of India and in parts of Africa. No wonder then that when Nokia sold its one billionth phone, it was the Nokia 1100. In comparison, around 160 million units of the Nokia 3210 have been sold.
The real reason why Nokia 1100 is the greatest phone ever made is its positioning in the market. It was priced low - less than Rs 5,000 - and it offered people a hassle-free experience. Everything in the phone was tuned to make the first time users comfortable. It had a very easy-to-use interface, allowed people to call by pressing a single key, had an option to change font size, offered battery life that was legendary and came with cool features like the torch. It even offered people some customisation options, if they wished to change the looks of their phone. Best of all, it offered an extremely reliable service. The call quality on this phone was fantastic and typing on its rubbery keys was extremely easy.
By today's standards the Nokia 1100 may look dated - though it is still more durable and offers better battery life than smartphones - but in 2003, the phone was a complete package in a design that was very likeable. No wonder, 12 years later after its launch, it is the best smartphone ever made.