Google Maps is widely regarded as one of the most impactful applications over the past two decades. But what if it had debuted even earlier? A creative design video offers a glimpse into how Google Maps might have appeared on the classic Nokia phones of the early 2000s.
Launched on desktop in February 2005, Google Maps later adapted to the rise of smartphones. In a short video shared on Twitter/X, a designer conceptualized the Google Maps experience on Nokia’s vintage black-and-white models. The video specifically features the Nokia 3210 from 1999, which was the precursor to the infamous 3310, often celebrated for its durability.
This imaginative concept portrays a Google Maps application tailored for the Nokia device, employing black dots to create its user interface. The video illustrates features such as destination information, remaining distance, active directions, and map controls. The map itself is represented using simple dots, designed in a manner that would have been genuinely useful had it existed 25 years ago.
The minute-long clip provides an entertaining trip down memory lane.
What modern application would you wish to see on a device like this from the past?
If Google Maps had existed in 1999. pic.twitter.com/2jXTBOwOIU — .W. (@Febri_Walanda) July 4, 2025
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