Mobile Phone [Nokia 232]

Maker and role
Nokia Corporation, Manufacturer
Production date
1995
See full details

Object detail

Accession number

2021.8.6

Maker

Nokia Corporation

Production period

1990s

Description

Nokia 232 Mobile Phone.

Part 1: Grey and black mobile phone with a small aerial on the top right which can be extended. On the front of the phone is a earpiece and a power button with "ON" printed in red. Beneath this is "NOKIA" printed in white and a display screen. Below is a keypad consisting of various buttons with printed text, "MENU / ABC / [...]". On the bottom of the phone is the charging port. On the left hand side are two small buttons with arrows. On the back is "FCC ID: GML THA-41" printed in white. On the reverse of the phone is the battery insert. A white sticker reads, "NOKIA / Model: 232 / Type: THA-41 / SN: 219/00952636 / [...] / MADE IN KOREA". Another white sticker reads, "TELEPERMIT / This Nokia 232 Mobile Phone / may be connected to the / Telecom Cellular Network [...]". A black sticker reads, "THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF / THE FCC [...]".

Part 2: Grey battery. A white sticker reads, "NOKIA / U.S. PAT PENDING / [...] / MADE IN CHINA".

Brief History

Nokia launched the 232 mobile phone in 1994 as a consumer phone rather than a business phone. It had a 98 number memory and 16 hours of standby battery time, and in the USA it was available in a range of colours, allowing American consumers to express personality through their phone for the first time. A later version of this model provided data and fax transmission.
The 232 featured in the 1995 film “Clueless”, where it was used by the lead character Cher Horowitz, highlighting teenagers’ growing use of mobile phones in America.

Marks

ON Printed
NOKIA Printed
MENU / ABC / [...] Printed
FCC ID: GML THA-41 Printed
NOKIA / Model: 232 / Type: THA-41 / SN: 219/00952636 / [...] / MADE IN KOREA Sticker
TELEPERMIT / This Nokia 232 Mobile Phone / may be connected to the / Telecom Cellular Network [...] Sticker
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF / THE FCC [...] Sticker
NOKIA / U.S. PAT PENDING / [...] / MADE IN CHINA Sticker

Media/Materials

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

Other name

Cell Phone

Credit Line

Nokia Corporation. 1995. Mobile Phone [Nokia 232], 2021.8.6. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).

Related resources

https://www.motat.nz/collections-and-stories/stories/a-history-of-mobile-phones//