Nokia’s Tampere units have played a strong role in the research and development of wireless data transfer. Nokia’s GSM data card and the Communicator, together with its software, are among the products that were developed mainly in the Nokia Mobile Phones unit that neighbours TUT in Hervanta, Tampere.
The data card, which connects a portable computer to the GSM network, came to the market in 1994. In the Communicator launched two years later, the data card was integrated to a mobile phone. The result was the first mobile communication device that had an e-mail and SMS functionality and an Internet connection.
"The Nokia Communicator and Nokia Mobile Phones’ other products wouldn’t have been developed in Tampere without the education in electronics and software systems at TUT. We are particularly happy about the many theses and dissertations related to the field", says Director Mikko Terho from Nokia Mobile Phones.
Dozens of Communicator-related Master’s theses were written at TUT. Most of them concerned built-in applications.
"A couple of Doctoral dissertations have been written on technology related to the Communicator, too. Wide-reaching expertise was required in its development", says Professor Ilkka Haikala from the Institute of Software Systems.
According to Haikala’s estimate, approximately half of the Master’s theses at the institute today are commissioned by Nokia. The parties are also cooperating in the form of continuing education arranged by the institute for the Nokia personnel.