Northern Telecom Meridian M3000 Touchphone world’s first production Touchphone.
A telephone with all indicators and functions managed by a Touchscreen.

The Meridian M3000 was an innovative telephone developed by Northern Telecom in collaboration with Bell Northern Research (BNR). Introduced in 1985, it was designed to work with Northern Telecom’s Meridian SL-1 Integrated Services Network, making it easier for businesses to connect through voice, text, and email messaging across 30 to 5,000 subscriber lines.

Ahead of Its Time

Long before touchscreen technology became common, the M3000 was already paving the way. To help users navigate its many features, BNR scientists developed an early pressure-sensitive touchscreen—one of the first ever used in a production telephone. The screen worked by layering two transparent metallic membranes over an LCD display. When pressed, the membranes connected, sending signals to the touch panel processor, much like the touchscreens we rely on today.

A Glimpse into the Future

With its blend of on-screen graphics and fixed-function buttons, the M3000 made communication more intuitive and user-friendly. Many of its features—like touch interaction and digital messaging—would later become staples of modern smartphones. Looking back, the Meridian M3000 wasn’t just a telephone; it was a glimpse into the future of communication.

As received January 07th 2025

January 08th 2025 Cleaned and tilt support repaired.

The M3000’s optical switch hook confused many customers, as they were expecting a button to press. In some cases, the device had to be replaced because frustrated customers slammed the handset onto the screen, causing the glass to break.

Meridian M3000 with Prototype M3000 Photos.