Nokia's first products couldn't have been more different from what it sells today

A viral Tweet has showcased just how far technology giant Nokia has come in its 157-year existence, as initially, the firm produced rolls of toilet paper.

Founded in modern-day Finland in 1865, the company expanded exponentially throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, reaching an eventual apex at the turn of the new millennium.

By 2007, more than half of the mobile phones in use globally were Nokias, an incredible feat that underlines just how big their market share was at the height of their popularity.

However, as Bloomberg journalist Jon Erlichman demonstrated on Twitter recently, the origins of Nokia are far more humble and modest.

Nokia started as a paper mill in 1865.

One of its first products: toilet paper. pic.twitter.com/Jo00H9fNw6

— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) August 28, 2022

The story begins with Finnish-Swede Fredrik Idestam opening a pulp mill in an area of Finland that was, at the time, occupied by the Russian Empire.

One of the company's biggest exports at the time was paper, and after the opening of a second mill in the town of Nokia, the brand that we know today was officially born in 1871. While Nokia would soon diversify their product range, as Erlichman shows, toilet paper was one of their very first creations in the early years.

It wasn't until the late 1960s that Nokia would make the crucial move into electronics that would eventually prove to be so fruitful.

In 1967, Nokia merged with two other companies to create a Corporation with four separate businesses – one of which was to specialise in electronics.

During a time of great technological advancement, the firm would also move into manufacturing networking and military equipment for Finland's military.

A decade later, under the seminal leadership of CEO Kari Kairamo, the company was transformed into 'Nordic Japan', taking a leaf out of Sony and Samsung's book to become a global leader in electronics.

The production of its first-ever micro-computer would follow, before the first iteration of a product that would change Nokia's trajectory forever – the mobile phone.

Sony was founded in 1946. Its first product was an electric rice cooker.

Here are some early products from 11 other well known companies. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BPlDQNEtTe

— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) August 28, 2022

The first would come in 1982, and while not especially popular, it lay the foundations for what was to come in the following decade.

As mobile phones were adopted by more and more people in the 1990s, Nokia phones became the defacto choice for many – especially in the West.

By 2000, the Finnish company had a market share of 30 percent, twice that of Motorola, its nearest competitor.

The good times couldn't last, however. As soon as Steve Jobs unveiled the first ever iPhone at an Apple event in late 2007, Nokia's gradual downfall became an inevitability.

Samsung was founded it 1938.

It started by exporting fruit and fish. pic.twitter.com/LQBPbWbKcJ

— Jon Erlichman (@JonErlichman) August 28, 2022

Their market share evaporated over the following five years, and not even a revival partnership with Microsoft – who helped them develop the Windows Phone – could quite save Nokia.

Nevertheless, the brand lives on today as a world leader in telecommunications and data networking.

Earlier this year, Nokia announced a deal with NASA, which will see them eventually build a 4G mobile network for astronaut usage on the moon.

Alongside offering a glimpse into Nokia's fascinating history, Jon Erlichman also shared images of Sony's first product (an electric rice cooker), and Samsung's first ever shop – which sold fruit and fish.

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