Nokia 8800 - The exquisite mobile phone from the previous decade

In the fashion world, the trend towards the purchase of retro and vintage goods has long since started. It is not seldom that enormous sums are paid for coveted Haute-Couture dresses or handbags from earlier times. For example, the sale of a Birkin Bag from Hermès from the 1980s or 1990s amounts to a high 5-digit sum, which is gracefully paid for by predominantly female and interested buyers. And an end is not in sight - quite the opposite, it looks as if this is just the beginning of what is still to come. Because what was hardly affordable at the time is all the more coveted today.

Similarly, this retro-vintage hype has now started with mobile phones from the past decades. And here, too, the same principle applies as in the fashion world: only items that were expensive and rare at that time are seen as valuable and sought-after now. Thus, for most of the mobile models of the 1990s and 2000s certainly no retro hype will start - most models will remain insignificant electrical scrap. However, the future development of the Motorola RAZR and Nokia 8XXX series will be interesting. Some models of these series have the absolute potential of becoming true retro classics. But there is no doubt that the rank of the most interesting and coveted retro mobile phone cannot be taken away from the Nokia 8800 anymore.

But many will ask themselves at this point, what to do with such a mobile phone?! No WiFi, no UMTS, no LTE, no GPS, no Android or iOS and thus no WhatsApp, etc.; the camera has just about two megapixels, the size of the display is somehow around two inches.

The answer to this question is quite simple: anyone who is going to afford a Nokia 8800 today will use the device and not keep it in the drawer. It is considered a fashion accessory, similar to a fine fountain pen, an exclusive wristwatch, an expensive tiepin. It will make the owner stand out from the crowd. As more and more people are becoming increasingly reluctant to have Internet, multimedia and email everywhere, and are thereby reducing their communication capabilities to a mere telephonic presence, retro mobile phones are getting a whole new level of 'raison d'être'. It is becoming a small status symbol. Anyone who wants to have such a status symbol has to pay a hefty sum. You do not get it almost or completely free if you sign a new mobile contract or extend your existing one.

But watch out when purchasing! Anyone who only wants to spend a few hundred Euros will probably buy a device that seems to look like a Nokia 8800.  In the meantime, there are more counterfeit products on the market than genuine devices built by Nokia. However, the following applies:

Items can only be considered real, desirable and expensive if they are original ones. And this applies only to devices, which were manufactured by Nokia back then. At this point, the question of course arises, what is genuine and what is a fake. Unfortunately, this topic is very complex, and there is currently no relevant and informative literature on this subject. It should also be noted that the ratio of fake products is much higher among internet shops than among private sellers.

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:   www.mobileindustryreview.com

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:    www.paulov.ru

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:   www.nokiamuseum.info

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:   www.nokiamuseum.info

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:   www.computerbild.de

Bildnachweis / Photo credits:   www.nokiamuseum.info

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Basically, the following 8800 models were manufactured by Nokia at various production sites between 2005 and 2009 (list without liability):

• Nokia 8800  (Made in Germany)              
• Nokia 8800d Sirocco Edition Black  (Made in Germany)   
• Nokia 8800d Sirocco Edition Gold  (Made in Germany)   
• Nokia 8800e-1 Sapphire Arte  (Made in Korea)
• Nokia 8800e-1 Carbon Arte  (Made in Korea)
• Nokia 8800e-1 Arte  (Made in Finland)
• Nokia 8800a Gold Arte  (Made in Finland)
  
  

With many fake models, the country of origin is not the same as the type label. In addition, there are many more details, through which you can recognise fake models. If a device is offered as "new", it is most likely a fake.

Caution should also be exercised with so-called co-branding models. Special editions of Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci, Versace, Lamborghini, Prada, Bulgari, Swarovski and Aston Martin are offered on a huge scale. But only a few of them actually existed!

If you put emphasis on authenticity when purchasing, you should get information well beforehand. Because original devices in good condition, complete with all accessories and original packaging are now worth €1000,- at least. In the long term, prices are expected to rise into the high four-digit range. For real special editions with only small numbers of 250 or 500 pieces, prices can be expected in the five-digit range. 

If you want to invest such sums, you should consult a person with expertise before buying. There are still some Nokia clubs around the world that may have the appropriate expertise. Due to the reorientation of the Nokia brand last year, you may also consider the possibility of sending inquiries to the company HMD Global located in Espo, Finland (Nokia.com).