Background
The Technophone PC-105A was designed and manufactured by Technophone Limited, a British telecommunications company founded in 1984 by Nils Mårtensson, a Swedish radio engineer who previously worked at Ericsson. The company was known for producing mobile phones under the Excell brand in the UK and also manufactured phones for other companies such as Deutsche Bundespost and Olivetti.
The company's innovative work on the PC105 mobile phone earned Technophone the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation (Technology) in 1988.
In 1991, Technophone was sold by Mårtensson for approximately £50 million to Nokia. The factory in Camberley, Surrey that was used by Technophone was repurposed for the development and manufacture of base stations that enable mobile phones to function on Nokia Networks. The mobile phone arm of the business was divided into various regions around the world and became part of Nokia Mobile Phones, where phones are currently designed and manufactured globally.
Features
At the time, these devices were touted as the most intelligent, smallest, and lightest mobile phones in the world, and they were the first to fit comfortably in a pocket.
The Technophone PC-105A boasted several advanced features for its era, such as a backlit display, autodialing, a pin lock function, and a phone book capable of storing up to 99 names and numbers.
Moreover, the phone included a hands-free speakerphone function, enabling users to answer and make calls without holding the device against their ear. This feature proved particularly handy for busy professionals who needed to take calls while driving or multitasking.