It is true that before the arrival of the iPhone and Galaxy, the cellular market was much more decentralized and diverse – but there were some particularly prominent devices that almost every person in Israel, or at least every family in Israel, possessed at one time or another in the 90s and 2000s. ChatGPT reminds us of the most legendary phones.
Motorola StarTAC (1996)
The StarTech was one of the first phones to be truly portable – that is, the kind that fits in a pants pocket, not just a bag. With its convertible clamshell design and tiny size, it has become an instant status symbol. The popularity of StarTAC increased, cementing Motorola's position as a pioneer in the field and a significant competitor to Nokia, both of which, as we know, did not survive the competition with the iPhone and exited the market (Nokia by selling the phone division to Microsoft, and Motorola by selling the equivalent division to Google).
Nokia 5110 (1998)
Until the Nokia 5110, the mobile world was black and white, and mostly gray. Then came the first device with alternating panels, which allowed users to switch from one color to another in a few seconds. He also introduced the world to the iconic game "Snake", which conquered millions of players around the world.
Ericsson T28 (1999)
The tiny Ericsson T28 is remembered by Israelis as the device of businessmen, with its slim design, tiny screen and mouthpiece whose opening and closing answers and cuts off calls. It was also one of the first mobile phones whose antenna could not be telescopically removed from the body of the device. Despite its slim shape, the T28 was packed with innovative features and high call quality.
Nokia 3310 (2000)
No list of iconic phones from the 90s and 2000s would be complete without the legendary Nokia 3310. The device of the Finnish cellular giant is remembered for its strong structure, long battery life and, of course, the game "Snake", which made it a global phenomenon. It was a reliable workhorse that could stand the test of time.
Nokia 3100 (2003)
In the world this model is one of Nokia's least known, but in Israel, thanks to an extensive advertising campaign and the nickname "Zvika Pick", it has become a phenomenon. It boasted a compact design with interchangeable covers, with blue and white by default, and included a color screen and a new version of the Snake, under the name "Snake II".
Motorola RAZR V3 (2004)
Razer V3 is probably the perfect embodiment of sleek design in the first decade of this century. Its slim shell structure, illuminated touch buttons and metallic finish made it a fashion statement. The Razr V3's popularity soared, becoming one of the best-selling phones of all time and a symbol of technological elegance.
Sony Ericsson W800i (2005)
If the previous device was called "Zvika Pick", then this device was mainly known as the "Walkman phone" (although it was not the only one, but only the most popular in the series). It was a trailblazer for music lovers, incorporating an MP3 player with dedicated music control buttons, designed to save buyers from buying an iPod as well.
BlackBerry Curve 8330 (2008)
Until the mid-2000s, BlackBerry was known as a brand of devices for business people – but then, the Curve series, with its full vertical keyboard that allowed fast typing of SMS, email and chat messages, combined with a size similar to normal phones and excellent marketing offers from communications companies in Israel, suddenly made it a favorite of young people.
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