1997 Archives - GSM Collection

/home/frenchca/public_html/gsmcollection/wp-content/plugins/woocommerce-products-filter/views/woof.php on line 582
">

Product Release Year

Product Battery

Product Made in

Product Brands

NO
YES
YES - SWAP
YES-Swap

Black
Blue
Pink

Product Headsets

Showing 1–12 of 18 results

Alcatel One Touch Com

💎 Rarity Index: B (Uncommon)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good- 8.5/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~1.2M

📰 Why this phone matters: The year is 1997. Nokia has just brought out the “Matrix cell phone” 8110, the Communicator is said to be another 3 years away. At Siemens you get either the S6 cooking spoon or the S10 with a three-color display. Ericsson has nothing to do with Sony yet, and the GF768 had to – and could – live with a single-line display. Until then, Alcatel was best known for the super cheap One Touch Easy series, but is now launching the One Touch Com. Alternatively, you can also order it from Sharp in the form of the identical MC-G1.

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Bosch 607

💎 Rarity Index: B (Uncommon)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: BNIB – 10/10

⏱ Life timer: 0m | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~300k

📰 Why this phone matters: Entry Level from Bosch in 1997

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Ericsson GF788e

💎 Rarity Index: B (Uncommon)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.5/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~2.5M

📰 Why this phone matters: The Ericsson GF 788 is a mobile device manufactured by the Ericsson manufacturer . The series was launched in 1997, has since been manufactured and is 105 x 49 x 24 mm in size and weighs 135 grams. The screen is alphanumeric with 1 x 10 character resolution. The Ericsson GF 788 is coded. Ringtones in the future are of this monoponic type . For texting, you can use SMS . The battery is removable, with a NiMH type of 550 mAh capacity and up to 60 hours of standbyand it lasts 180 minutes while calling. Whereas for communication, this router uses GSM networks

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Kyocera DS-320

💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first ever phone that could have a camera attached to it, back in 1997

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 8.5/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~100k

📰 Why this phone matters: The concept of mobile phones equipped with camera functions is not uncommon today. However, in the 90s of the last era, it is still a very incredible thing. At that time, the pager boom in China had just passed, and mobile phones were still in the ascendant. Fresh stuff, who would have thought of stuffing a small lens into such a small and exquisite body?
Japan’s Kyocera first thought of this. In 1997, Kyocera launched a brand-new Datascope series, including DS-110 and DS-320 mobile phones. Monochrome LCD screens seem unremarkable, but, Also launched with them is a very eye-catching accessory-VS-110.

This accessory is driven by 2 AA batteries, can rotate 210 degrees, and can be movedIt can also be used as a standalone digital camera for video calls on the Internet. It is the world’s first mobile phone equipped with a camera and supports video calls.
Although the practicality is very low, it is the first step taken by mobile phone manufacturers. From 1997 to 1999, Kyocera conducted two years of research and development on the basis of this mobile phone. In May 1999 The VP-210 is officially launched, which integrates the camera on the top of the phone, is equipped with a 110,000-pixel front lens and a 2-inch TFT color screen. It can not only make video calls, but also take 20 photos and share them via email. The first camera phone in the true sense.

📝 Reviews when released: W 01 🔗

Quick View
Motorola StarTAC 85: The Black Heritage BNIB

💎 Rarity Index: C (Common)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: BNIB – 10/10

⏱ Life timer: 7m | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: More than 1000 $

📊 Units Sold: ~2M

📰 Why this phone matters: The Motorola StarTAC 85 is one of the most refined and well balanced GSM variants of the legendary StarTAC family, the first true clamshell mobile phones ever produced. Introduced in the late 1990s, the StarTAC 85 improved on earlier versions with updated internal circuitry, stronger radio performance, reinforced hinge tolerances, and better durability, while preserving the compact flip design that made the StarTAC line a global icon.

This unit is BNIB and comes as a complete full box set. That is an extremely rare condition for any StarTAC model. Most StarTAC 85 units were opened and used heavily, which over time led to worn housings, loose hinges, cracked antennas, and missing accessories. A full retail package with original box, inserts, charger, accessories and documentation, in unused or near unused state, places this device in the very top collector category. Fully boxed StarTAC 85 sets are believed to represent well under a few percent of all surviving devices.

Within the StarTAC GSM lineup, the 85 sits between the early 70 series and the later 130 models. It keeps the early generation proportions and clean design that collectors like, but benefits from mid cycle engineering improvements that make it more reliable for long term use. These refinements include improved grounding on the main board, more stable GSM 900 and 1800 radio stages, reinforced hinge stops, updated keypad dome sheets for more consistent feedback, and stronger internal plastics around key stress points. Many technicians consider the 85 one of the most robust early StarTAC variants.

The StarTAC family itself reshaped the mobile industry. Evolving from the earlier MicroTAC series, the StarTAC introduced the fully folding clamshell format and made compact, pocket friendly phones a reality for a wide audience. More than 60 million StarTAC units were sold worldwide, and in 2005 PC World listed the StarTAC as one of the greatest gadgets of the past 50 years. The StarTAC 85 carries this heritage with its minimalist black housing, slim antenna, clear monochrome display, compact footprint and precise hinge motion.

For collectors, a BNIB Motorola StarTAC 85 is one of the most desirable ways to own a piece of this history. It preserves not only the device, but also the full retail experience from the late 1990s, exactly as it would have been received by a first owner at that time. The combination of complete box, unused or near unused condition, and the technically refined 85 hardware makes this example a true boxed black heritage piece in the StarTAC line.

This StarTAC 85 – The Boxed Black Heritage stands as a museum grade artifact from the golden era of Motorola engineering. It is one of the finest surviving examples of the most influential flip phone design ever created and a centerpiece for any serious mobile phone collection.

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 3110

💎 Rarity Index: D (Very Common)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first Nokia phone to feature the Navi-Key (a.k.a. D-Pad)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.8/10

⏱ Life timer: NA | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~8M

📰 Why this phone matters: The 3110 is a GSM mobile phone handset manufactured by Nokia in Hungary, introduced at CEBIT in March 1997.The 3110 is notable as the first Nokia handset to feature the ‘Navi-Key’ (a.k.a. D-Pad) menu navigation system. The Navi-Key was featured heavily on Nokia handsets, especially the entry-level models such as the Nokia 1100 in the following years. Unlike its successor, the 3210, and subsequent handsets of similar design, the 3110 had an external antenna. The phone was available with a slim, standard or vibrating battery. It could only be used on a GSM-900 network.
The 3110 shared the platform and accessories of the Nokia 8110 “banana phone”.
The model number was reused by Nokia in 2007 when the company launched the Nokia 3110 classic. The 3110 Classic sports a candybar form factor similar to that of the 3110, but adds modern features such as Bluetooth, camera functionality, audio and video playback and recording, and packet data over EDGE, in addition to tri-band functionality.
Unlike subsequent 3000 series mobile phones, its display is not PCD8544 based. This is a special edition made for VW AG, it has red light and LI ION battery

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 3110 Blue VW Edition

💎 Rarity Index: S (Ultra Rare)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first Nokia phone to feature the Navi-Key (a.k.a. D-Pad)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 9/10

⏱ Life timer: NA | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~10k

📰 Why this phone matters: The 3110 is a GSM mobile phone handset manufactured by Nokia in Hungary, introduced at CEBIT in March 1997.The 3110 is notable as the first Nokia handset to feature the ‘Navi-Key’ (a.k.a. D-Pad) menu navigation system. The Navi-Key was featured heavily on Nokia handsets, especially the entry-level models such as the Nokia 1100 in the following years. Unlike its successor, the 3210, and subsequent handsets of similar design, the 3110 had an external antenna. The phone was available with a slim, standard or vibrating battery. It could only be used on a GSM-900 network.
The 3110 shared the platform and accessories of the Nokia 8110 “banana phone”.
The model number was reused by Nokia in 2007 when the company launched the Nokia 3110 classic. The 3110 Classic sports a candybar form factor similar to that of the 3110, but adds modern features such as Bluetooth, camera functionality, audio and video playback and recording, and packet data over EDGE, in addition to tri-band functionality.
Unlike subsequent 3000 series mobile phones, its display is not PCD8544 based. This is a special edition made for VW AG, it has red light and LI ION battery

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 3110 Orange

💎 Rarity Index: B (Uncommon)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first Nokia phone to feature the Navi-Key (a.k.a. D-Pad)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 9/10

⏱ Life timer: NA | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~8M

📰 Why this phone matters: The 3110 is a GSM mobile phone handset manufactured by Nokia in Hungary, introduced at CEBIT in March 1997.The 3110 is notable as the first Nokia handset to feature the ‘Navi-Key’ (a.k.a. D-Pad) menu navigation system. The Navi-Key was featured heavily on Nokia handsets, especially the entry-level models such as the Nokia 1100 in the following years. Unlike its successor, the 3210, and subsequent handsets of similar design, the 3110 had an external antenna. The phone was available with a slim, standard or vibrating battery. It could only be used on a GSM-900 network.
The 3110 shared the platform and accessories of the Nokia 8110 “banana phone”.
The model number was reused by Nokia in 2007 when the company launched the Nokia 3110 classic. The 3110 Classic sports a candybar form factor similar to that of the 3110, but adds modern features such as Bluetooth, camera functionality, audio and video playback and recording, and packet data over EDGE, in addition to tri-band functionality.
Unlike subsequent 3000 series mobile phones, its display is not PCD8544 based. This is a special edition made for VW AG, it has red light and LI ION battery

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 6110: The Chameleon Business Icon

💎 Rarity Index: C (Common)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first GSM phone to use an ARM processor, The first Nokia phone with the Snake game pre-installed

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.5/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~7M

📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 6110 is one of the most important business phones Nokia ever created, introducing technologies and design elements that shaped the brand for years to come. Released in 1998, it delivered a series of major milestones that defined the next decade of Nokia devices. It was the first chameleon color phone in the world, the first Nokia with IR, the first Nokia with Series 20 icon UI, the first Nokia with Snake, and the first Nokia with an ARM processor. No other Nokia model combined this many industry firsts at once.

This chameleon color unit is especially significant. Its color-shifting shell, changing tone depending on lighting and angle, was a world first and made the 6110 stand out immediately in the late 1990s market. These iridescent shells were produced in much smaller quantities than standard colors, and finding a brand new example today is extremely rare. This unit shows the 6110 exactly as Nokia intended, with unmistakable visual character and a premium finish unique to this early business classic.

Built on the same hardware platform as the consumer-focused Nokia 5110 but enhanced for business users, the 6110 introduced a new icon-driven Series 20 interface that became the foundation for future Nokia UI design. Its ARM processor improved performance, while the infrared port enabled early wireless data transfer long before Bluetooth became standard. Snake, preinstalled for the first time on this model, would go on to become one of the most iconic mobile games ever created.

The 6110 offered reduced size, better talk time, strong GSM reception, and a professional design that aligned with the growing business mobile market. It also represented the beginning of the 6xxx series, which would become one of Nokia’s most respected and longest-running product families.

With its world first chameleon housing and an unmatched combination of technological milestones, this brand new Nokia 6110 stands as an exceptional collector-grade example and a key piece of mobile phone history. It represents the moment Nokia transitioned from early GSM devices into the modern mobile era and set the standards for design, interface, and connectivity for years to come.

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 6110: The D2 Platinum Business Classic

💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first GSM phone to use an ARM processor, The first Nokia phone with the Snake game pre-installed

👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 9/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~7M

📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 6110 D2 Platinum Edition is a rare and visually distinctive version of one of Nokias most influential business phones. Released in 1998 for the German D2 network, this variant features a premium grey metallic shell and regional branding, giving it a refined and professional appearance that stands out from the standard colors.

The 6110 platform itself represents a major turning point in Nokia history. It introduced an exceptional list of industry firsts: the first chameleon color phone in the world, the first Nokia with IR, the first Nokia with Series 20 icon UI, the first Nokia with Snake, and the first Nokia with an ARM processor. No earlier Nokia model combined this many breakthroughs at once. Although the Platinum Edition uses a metallic grey shell rather than the chameleon finish, it fully inherits the technological importance of the 6110 platform.

As a business-targeted model, the 6110 delivered improved talk time, reduced size, stronger performance and a more advanced interface compared to earlier generations like the 2110. Its infrared port enabled early wireless data transfers years before Bluetooth became standard, and the Series 20 icon-driven UI laid the groundwork for future Nokia user interfaces for many years to come.

The D2 Platinum Edition is significantly rarer than regular 6110 units. It was produced in smaller quantities, distributed mainly within the German business market, and most units were heavily used, making clean surviving examples uncommon today. Its metallic finish, regional branding and connection to the earliest era of Nokia business innovation make it a desirable collectible piece.

The Nokia 6110 D2 Platinum Edition remains a core part of Nokias late-1990s business evolution, offering a unique combination of premium styling, regional exclusivity and historical significance tied to one of the most important mobile platforms ever created.

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 8110 Michael Schumacher Limited Edition No.0296 – The Impossible-to-Find Edition

💎 Rarity Index: S (Ultra Rare)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first Nokia phone with a slider form factor, The first of Nokia high-end 8000 series, The first Nokia phone with monochrome graphic LCD, The first phone with SSMS (Smart SMS), The first phone to support ring tone receiving by SMS, The phone featured in the science fiction action film The Matrix (1999)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: As New – 9.8/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: 1997

📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 8110 Michael Schumacher Limited Edition No.0296 is one of the most remarkable collectible mobile phones ever released – and this specific unit stands out even within that ultra-rare group. Produced in a strictly limited run of 1,997 pieces worldwide, this device carries the official individual number 0296, matching the original Talkline-issued authenticity certificate, signed in print by Michael Schumacher himself. Every detail confirms its legitimacy as part of the official Michael Schumacher Collection, licensed by PPM.

This particular device remains in full-box condition, a rarity in its own right. The package includes the complete original set: the official certificate with matching number, original box and inserts, accessories, and the pristine handset finished in the iconic Schumacher red. The front fascia features Michael’s portrait subtly integrated into the sliding cover, accompanied by his stylized signature. The back includes the factory-applied Schumacher Collection sticker, with the same official sticker also present on the box and on the label inside the phone, ensuring absolute consistency and authenticity across all components.

As part of the broader Michael Schumacher mobile series, Nokia also released a Schumacher Edition Nokia 2110, a similarly themed model from the same era. It is an important companion piece to the 8110, and while highly sought after, it is not yet present in the collection, making the 8110 even more of a standout centerpiece until its counterpart is added.

Beyond the collectible value, the phone itself is an icon of mobile history: the Nokia 8110 was the first high-end slider of the Nokia 8000 series, the earliest “banana phone,” and a technological status symbol of the late 90s. Its curved silhouette, sliding mechanism that answers calls, and monochrome graphic LCD defined the era. The improved 8110i later introduced Smart Messaging – making this line the origin point for many modern phone features. The 8110 also achieved pop-culture immortality when a modified version appeared in The Matrix.

Combined with the Schumacher branding, this edition transforms the classic 8110 into something far more significant: a celebration of a Formula 1 legend at the height of his career. Owning unit 0296 means holding a true numbered artifact of motorsport history – a device tied directly to the most dominant driver of the era.

This is not just a limited edition phone.
It is a preserved, authenticated piece of racing heritage, paired with one of the most iconic Nokia designs ever created.

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View
Nokia 8110i

💎 Rarity Index: C (Common)

⭐ WOW Factor: The first Nokia phone with a slider form factor, The first of Nokia’s high-end 8000 series, The first Nokia phone with monochrome graphic LCD, The first phone with SSMS (Smart SMS), The first phone to support ring tone receiving by SMS, The phone featured in the science fiction action film The Matrix (1999)

👁 Evaluation in my collection: As New – 9.8/10

⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: YES

📅 Release Year: 1997 | 💰 Release Price: N/A

📊 Units Sold: ~1.5M

📰 Why this phone matters: Nokia 8110 is a mobile phone released in 1996. It was announced on September 9, 1996 as the first of Nokia’s high-end 8000 series of phones.Its distinctive styling was the first example of a ‘slider’ form factor. A sliding cover protected the keypad when being carried in the pocket and extended downwards in use, bringing the microphone closer to the mouth.The action of opening the cover also answered an incoming call. The prominent curvature of the case, particularly when open, earned it the nickname “banana phone”. It was also the first Nokia phone with monochrome graphic LCD.
The phone was designed for the business market and was one of the smallest and lightest (152 grams) phones on the market, but still had better battery life than its predecessor Nokia 2110.
The improved 8110i model, announced in March 1997, was the first phone with the SSMS (Smart SMS) engine.The handsets could be updated OTA (Over The Air) with an intelligent menu structure, which allowed simple information input, input which was sent through a simple structured text message to an MT receiver. This station could interpret information and a structured text message back to the handset. Ring tone receiving by SMS was also part of the smart messaging protocol, so 8110i was also the first mobile phone to support it. Nokia later stopped marketing Smart messaging and concentrated on the upcoming WAP standard, but has not dropped smart messaging support from later phones. Both models were succeeded by Nokia 8810 in 1998.
The phone was famously featured in the science fiction action film The Matrix (1999), for which it was modified featuring spring-loaded mechanism (this later appeared on the Nokia 7110).

📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔

Quick View