Mobile Phone [Samsung SCH-N105]

Maker and role
Samsung Group, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 2000
See full details

Object detail

Accession number

2021.8.3

Maker

Samsung Group

Production period

2000s

Description

Samsung SCH-N105 red flip phone.

Part 1: The phone is red and black with a short aerial on the top right. On the front of the phone is a display screen and earpiece. "SAMSUNG / DIGITAL" is printed in white. The bottom of the phone folds out to reveal a keypad with various buttons and printed text, "MENU / CLR / SEND / [...]". At the base of the phone is a charging port. On the back of the phone is the removable battery with "SAMSUNG" engraved. At the top of the phone is a transparent sticker with white text, "DIGITAL BY / QUALCOMM". On the left hand side of the phone is a headphone port and two small silver buttons. On the reverse of the phone is the battery insert. A silver sticker reads, "SAMSUNG / CDMA PHONE / MODEL NO: SCH-N105 / [...] / MADE in KOREA".

Part 2: Black battery. "SAMSUNG" is engraved on the front. On the other side of the battery is a white sticker with text "SAMSUNG / STANDARD BATTERY / MODEL: BST0208BE / TYPE: 3.7V Li-ion / [...] / S/N: YA2R6122/12 / MADE IN KOREA".

Brief History

Dating to around 2001, this Samsung SCH-N105 mobile phone is an example of a fairly standard mobile phone of the era, when colours were becoming an option for consumers to express individuality and phone functionality was expanding. The flip section covers the keyboard only, leaving the screen visible to display an incoming call or message. The phone could work on either an analogue or a 2G digital mobile network, the latter of which allowed it to send and receive text (SMS) messages. It does not have features such as a camera or internet connectivity.

Marks

SAMSUNG / DIGITAL Printed
MENU / CLR / SEND / [...] Printed
DIGITAL BY / QUALCOMM Sticker
SAMSUNG / CDMA PHONE / MODEL NO: SCH-N105 / [...] / MADE in KOREA Sticker
SAMSUNG Engraved
SAMSUNG / STANDARD BATTERY / MODEL: BST0208BE / TYPE: 3.7V Li-ion / [...] / S/N: YA2R6122/12 / MADE IN KOREA Sticker

Media/Materials

Processed Material/Synthetic/Plastic
Processed Material/Metal
Organic/Vegetal/Plant Extract/Latex/Rubber

Other name

Cell Phone

Credit Line

Samsung Group. Circa 2000. Mobile Phone [Samsung SCH-N105], 2021.8.3. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).

Related resources

https://www.motat.nz/collections-and-stories/stories/a-history-of-mobile-phones//
https://www.spark.co.nz/documents/samsung%20sch%20n105.pdf