NEC 9A (One of the very first mobiles)

HANDPORTABLE CELLULAR TELEPHONE

This Analogue NEC 9A is an extremely rare collectable item. The phone is in good condition and has been well looked after. It is supplied with battery & charger. It is very difficult to source these phones in good condition, you just do not see them like this. The phone is approximatly 22 yrs + old, and would make an ideal retro gift. The phone does  power up and holds some charge, all digits press correctly. This is a wonderful piece for someone’s collection and you will probably not see one again in this condition.

Please note: Due to the age of used batteries we cannot offer any form of warranty with them. They can be up to 20 years old. We check that the battery powers up the phone but have now way of testing how long the battery will perform for. We therefore recommend to get the best performance from your phone is to purchase a new battery. We do not supply them.  

Another challenger to Motorola's dominance was Japanese manufacture NEC (formerly the Nippon Electric Company). NEC launched the NEC 9A handheld mobile phone in the UK in Autumn 1987. It was well received by the dealers, being smaller and lighter than its rivals, as well as offering more functions. It quickly became the fastest selling hand held mobile phone. Initially the NEC 9A was relatively expensive. Only Nokia and Phillips asked for more money for a mobile handset.

With so much competition, Motorola acted to maintain its market share by cutting the cost of hand held cell phones by 20%. This action started a price war which sent the cost of basic hand held phones tumbling.

By the end of 1988 it was possible to get a basic, hand held phone for £500 [still over £1000 in today's money]. Mobile phones were still mainly a business tool, but those further down the corporate pay scale were now able to get their hands on one. Peter Waller, MD of Cellnet, claimed his window cleaner used a handheld mobile phone to take orders whilst he was up a ladder.