In 1977, Kari Kairamo became CEO and transformed the company's businesses.
By this time,
Finland was becoming what has been called "Nordic Japan".[by whom?] Under his leadership, Nokia
acquired many companies, including television maker Salora in 1984, followed by Swedish
electronics and computer maker Luxor AB in 1985, and French television maker Oceanic in 1987.
This made Nokia the third-largest television manufacturer of Europe (behind Philips and Thomson).
The existing brands continued to be used until the end of the television business in 1996.
Nokia Mikko 3 minicomputer, 1978
Mobira Cityman 450, 1985
In 1987, Nokia acquired Schaub-Lorenz, the consumer operations of Germany's Standard Elektrik
Lorenz (SEL), which included its "Schaub-Lorenz" and "Graetz" brands. It was originally part of
American conglomerate International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT), and after the acquisition
products were sold under the "ITT Nokia" brand, despite SEL's sale to Compagnie Générale
d'Electricité (CGE), the predecessor of Alcatel, in 1986.
In 1987, Kaapelitehdas discontinued production of cables at its Helsinki factory after 44 years,
effectively shutting down the sub-company.
On 1 April 1988, Nokia bought the Information Systems division of Ericsson,[32] which had originated
as the Datasaab computer division of Swedish aircraft and car manufacturer Saab. Ericsson
Information Systems made Alfaskop terminals, typewriters, minicomputers and Ericsson-
branded IBM compatible PCs. The merger with Nokia's Information Systems division—which since
1981 had a line of personal computers called MikroMikko—resulted in the name Nokia Data.
Various Mobira phones on display in a museum in Helsinki, Finland.
The Mobira Senator (first from the left), was one of the first phones compatible with the NMT-network.
It weighed around 9.8 kg (22 lb).
Nokia also acquired Mobira, a mobile radio telephone manufacturer that had been established in
a joint venture with Salora Oy in 1979, which became the foundation of its future mobile phone
business. In 1981, Mobira launched the Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) service, the world's first
international cellular network and the first to allow international roaming. In 1982, Mobira launched
the Mobira Senator car phone, Nokia's first mobile phone. At that time, the company had no interest
in producing mobile phones, which the executive board regarded as akin to James Bond's gadgets:
improbably futuristic and niche devices. After all these acquisitions, Nokia's revenue base became
US$2.7 billion.
CEO Kairamo took his own life on 11 December 1988.
Mobira 800-NDB non-directional beacon located in the Finnish Air Force signals museum
Nokia MAC 8532 laser rangefinder previously used by Finnish coastal artillery
Hämeenlinna artillery museum display containing fire control officer with Nokia artillery calculator
in Finnish artillery battalion command post
Late 1980s MikroMikko 4 TT m216 desktop computer in the Museum of Technology, Helsinki,
Finland
ITT Nokia television with an ITT Nokia VCR (ITT/SEL)
A 1986 Mobira pager
