Nokia announced the 3310 on 1 September 2000 as a compact phone built around calls, messages and personalisation. It supported SMS chat, longer linked messages, picture messaging, games and editable profiles, while replaceable Xpress-on covers changed the look of the handset. Its simple shape and physical keypad became instantly recognisable.
Why It Mattered
The 3310 arrived when text messaging was becoming a daily social habit rather than an occasional extra. Its approachable menus, games and swappable covers made the phone feel personal, while its reputation for toughness helped it become one of the era’s most affectionately remembered handsets.
SMS chat
- Chat mode used the normal SMS channel for point-to-point conversations.
- Messages were identified by user-selected chat nicknames and retained in a scrollable on-screen history.
- Concatenated messaging joined as many as three messages into a longer text.
Handset specification
- The phone supported GSM 900/1800 and EGSM 900 networks and weighed 133 grams.
- Nokia specified up to 4 hours 30 minutes of talk time and up to 260 hours of standby time with the standard NiMH battery.
- A built-in antenna and Nokia Navi Key were part of the physical design.
Customisation and preservation
- Xpress-on front and back covers were offered in six colours.
- Downloadable profiles combined a screensaver, ringtone and profile name; the phone also included Space Impact and Bantumi.
- The National Museum of Singapore holds a 2000 Nokia 3310 as accession 2019-00568.
Associated With
Nokia - creator or operator
Defining Feature
GSM 900/1800 handset with enhanced-SMS chat, changeable covers and downloadable profiles
Status
Preserved - Original model is a museum-preserved 2000 mobile phone
- All one image sources are not yet verified — editorial review required.
Rights Notice
Images are included for historical and archival reference.
Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.
Nokia handset design; photograph reproduced by CoolTool; photographer unknown
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
The Nokia 3310 paired a monochrome screen and physical keypad with games such as Snake, making a practical handset part of everyday leisure.
