The Cancelled Chea 208: A Feature Phone That Never Made It Into the Hands of Users
Have you ever heard of the Chea 208? Chances are, you probably haven't. This mobile device was announced back in 2003, but unfortunately, it was never released to the public. It's hard to imagine now, with new smartphones being released almost every month, but not every device that is announced actually makes it to the market. Let's take a closer look at the features and specs of this forgotten phone.
Cancelled Before Its Time: The Story of Chea 208
The Chea 208 was supposed to be a simple and affordable feature phone. Its release date was set for the third quarter of 2003, but sadly, it never saw the light of day. Maybe it was due to production or financial issues, or maybe there were other reasons why the phone was cancelled. Whatever the reason may have been, the Chea 208 stayed in the shadows and failed to make an impact in the tech world.
Basic Dimensions and Features
Let's start with the basics of the Chea 208. According to the few sources available, this device was expected to weigh only 74 grams and have a thickness of 20mm. Its small size would have made it comfortable to hold and easy to carry around. However, it did not have a card slot, meaning users would not be able to expand its storage.
Network and Technology
The Chea 208 was designed as a GSM-compatible feature phone. It was planned to support two 2G bands, specifically GSM 900 and 1800. Unfortunately, it did not have support for Edge technology, making its internet browsing capabilities quite limited.
Cancelled But Not Forgotten: The Chea 208's Launch and Status
Initially, the Chea 208 was announced with a launch date set for Q3 of 2003. However, it was later declared cancelled, leaving many disappointed and puzzled about the reason behind this decision. To this day, it remains a mystery why this device never made it to store shelves.
Design and Display
The design of the Chea 208 was simple and practical. It had dimensions of 85 x 45 x 20mm and a weight of 74 grams, making it compact and lightweight. The phone featured a TFT display with 65K colors and a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. Interestingly, it also had a second external FSTN monochrome display with a resolution of 96 x 64 pixels, which would have been useful for displaying notifications and simple information.
Sleek Design But No Memory Expansion
Unfortunately, the Chea 208 did not have a card slot, meaning users would have to make do with the internal memory of the phone. Its phonebook could store up to 150 entries, and it had call record capabilities.
No Camera or Sound Features
Unlike the phones of today, the Chea 208 did not have a camera or any sound features like a loudspeaker or a 3.5mm jack. However, it did support vibration and polyphonic ringtones.
Old-School Features and Limited Connectivity
The Chea 208 did not have any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities, making its connectivity options quite limited. It also did not have GPS or radio features, showing just how much mobile technology has evolved since then. It did have a USB port, but its uses remain unclear without the phone ever being released.
SMS, MMS, and Other Features
As a feature phone, the Chea 208 was expected to have basic features like SMS and MMS capabilities. It would have also had access to the internet through a WAP 1.2.1 browser. Other notable features included a clock, alarm, and a few built-in games.
Discontinued Before Its Time
The Chea 208 planned to offer four pre-installed games, but without its release, users were never able to experience them. The phone was said to only support the English language and have Java capabilities. It also had an organizer, voice memo, and voice dial features, which would have been useful for keeping track of daily tasks and making calls hands-free.
Battery Life and Final Thoughts
The Chea 208 was powered by a removable Li-Ion battery that promised up to 200 hours of standby time and up to 2 hours of talk time. These stats may seem underwhelming compared to today's smartphones, but back in 2003, they were considered decent.
In conclusion, the Chea 208 is a mysterious device that many have forgotten about. It may have been cancelled before it could make its mark in the market, but its specs and features still hold significance in the history of mobile phones. Who knows, if it had been released, it could have been a beloved feature phone, or maybe it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Nonetheless, the Chea 208 remains a fascinating piece of technology that never got the chance to prove its worth.
Chea 208 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
Yes
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2003, Q3
Status
Cancelled
Body
Dimensions
85 x 45 x 20 mm (3.35 x 1.77 x 0.79 in)
Weight
74 g (2.61 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
128 x 160 pixels
Other
Second external FSTN monochrome display (96 x 64 pixels)
Screensavers