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Created in Brazil in 1980, the “bina” revolutionized global telephony — but its story has a bitter side: the inventor lost the patent to an international giant and never received the due credits.
In an era where cell phones automatically display the caller’s number, many do not know that this function originated from a Brazilian invention, created in the 1980s.
The device became known as “bina,” an acronym for “B Identifica Número A”, and was developed by Nélio José Nicolai, a mining engineer born in Belo Horizonte.
Despite the technology’s relevance, the inventor’s story is marked by a legal battle that lasted decades — and ended without fair recognition.
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The Creation of the “bina” in Brazil
The invention arose from Nicolai’s frustration with prank calls, common at the time.
He was an employee of Telebrasília (now incorporated into Oi) and realized there was a way to capture the origin number of the call using the phone line signal itself.
In 1980, he built the first functional prototype of what he called the “bina.”
The idea was simple yet clever: before the phone rang, the device would capture the number of the caller.
This would allow one to know who was calling before answering, something unprecedented in Brazilian telephony until then — and later, in the world.
Nélio registered the patent for his invention with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in 1982, under number PI 820.6767.
However, the process of homologation and patent recognition was extremely slow and troubled, as was common at the time.
Multinationals Got Involved — and the Technology Spread
In the following years, Nicolai’s invention began to be commercially applied without his consent.
Companies like Siemens, Ericsson, and Telemar (now Oi) began to include the caller ID feature in phones, switchboards, and subscription services.
Nicolai claimed that these companies used his creation without paying royalties, which initiated a long and exhausting legal battle.
He even filed numerous lawsuits for unauthorized use of the patent, asserting that his invention had been commercially exploited without any financial return for him.
Recognition Never Came — and Justice Did Not Rule in His Favor
For more than 30 years, Nélio Nicolai fought to have his invention recognized.
In interviews, he expressed outrage at the indifference of authorities and companies that, according to him, enriched at his expense.
The press even nicknamed him the “father of the bina,” and his story was featured in outlets like Fantástico (TV Globo), O Globo, and Estadão.
However, Brazilian justice never ruled definitively in favor of the inventor.
In 2004, an opinion from Anatel recognized the importance of the “bina” and its patent, but this did not result in compensation or formal recognition from the companies.
The patent officially expired in 2012, without Nicolai receiving the amounts he claimed. In 2017, he passed away at the age of 72, without having received the royalties from his invention, which is now used worldwide.
The Technology of the “bina” Lives On in the Modern World
Even with the advancement of mobile telephony and digital communication, the principle invented by Nicolai continues to be used.
The Caller ID system, adopted in almost all landlines and cell phones across the globe, follows the foundations of the Brazilian’s original invention.
The irony is that many countries wrongly attribute the creation of caller ID to foreign companies, especially in the United States and Europe, ignoring national pioneering.
A Brazilian Story of Innovation — and Neglect
The story of the “bina” is a reflection of Brazil: a cradle of brilliant inventions that often do not receive due recognition.
The case of Nélio Nicolai shows how bureaucracy, institutional negligence, and the power of large corporations can silence even the greatest achievements.
Amidst a scenario where so many Brazilian startups and inventors seek global prominence, Nicolai’s journey should serve as a lesson on the importance of intellectual property protection and encouragement of national innovation.
O Brasil não valoriza brasileiros,
Fui amigo de Nélio José Nicolai .
Tenho cópia de email dele me chamando de amigo por causa do minha patente requerida MU780 1836 e MU780 1787
” Wipo patentscope buscar Celso Aparecido da Silva
Nélio José Nicolai era meu amigo.
Nélio José Nicolai nunca foi engenheiro,.
Nélio José Nicolai era técnico em telecomunicações tendo estudado em escola técnica em Minas Gerais.
Mesmo só nosso contato sendo por telefone e emails éramos amigos.
A história não é bem essa que conta a matéria.
Quer saber realmente a história?
Meu email celsoapsil@hotmail.com