RIM Blackberry 962 Two-Way Pager (1999)

RIM Blackberry 962

The RIM BlackBerry 962, released in late 1998, was a specialized, budget-friendly version of the iconic Inter@ctive Pager 950 designed to give people a more affordable entry point into the world of two-way mobile messaging. While it shared the exact same rugged, palm-sized body and mechanical scroll wheel as its bigger sibling, the 962 cut costs by offering 2MB of internal storage instead of 4MB. Operating on early wireless data networks, it allowed business professionals to send and receive full emails, faxes, and text messages using a highly clicky, miniature QWERTY keyboard that would eventually define the BlackBerry brand. Despite its smaller memory capacity, it was incredibly efficient, capable of running for several weeks on just a single standard AA battery while acting as a critical bridge between passive beepers and the always-connected smartphone future.

Source: Joe G.