Mobira Cityman released – one of the first handheld mobile phones.

The Mobira Cityman, one of the earliest handheld mobile phones, was released in 1987 by Nokia-Mobira, a joint venture between Nokia and Salora. Introduced during a period when most mobile devices were still bulky car phones, the Cityman represented a shift toward portable personal communication. It operated on the Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) network, one of the first international cellular systems, which was widely used across Nordic countries at the time. Weighing approximately 760 grams and measuring about 183 × 43 × 79 mm, the Mobira Cityman was significantly smaller than earlier mobile devices, making it practical for handheld use. The device supported voice calls and featured a basic monochrome display and physical keypad. Despite its portability, it was considered a premium product, with an initial price reportedly around 24,000 Finnish markka, which limited its accessibility to business users and affluent customers. The phone gained international visibility in October 1987 when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev used a Mobira Cityman during a visit to Helsinki to make a public call, earning it the nickname “Gorba.” This moment highlighted the device’s capabilities and symbolized the growing role of mobile communication in global connectivity. The Cityman became an early example of Nokia’s push into mobile technology, preceding its later dominance in the global mobile phone market. #MobiraCityman #NokiaHistory #MobilePhones #Telecommunications #1980sTech