Pantech PG-3500: The Feature Phone That Made Waves in 2005
Introduction
In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, it's easy to forget about the devices that once ruled the market. One such device was the Pantech PG-3500, a feature phone released by the Korean company in 2005.
A Disruptive Release
Pantech announced the PG-3500 in the fourth quarter of 2005, and it caught the attention of consumers worldwide. With its compact and light design, the phone weighed only 75g and had a thickness of 16.4mm. It was also one of the first phones to have a microSD slot for expandable storage, offering users 22MB of internal storage.
The Network and Display
The Pantech PG-3500 operated on the GSM technology and supported 2G bands of 900, 1800, and 1900 frequencies. Although it didn't have EDGE capabilities, it did have GPRS for internet connectivity. The phone's display was a TFT screen with 256K colors, offering a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Additionally, it had a secondary external screen with 65K colors and a resolution of 96 x 128 pixels.
A Camera Ahead of Its Time
With a single 1.3MP camera and an LED flash, the PG-3500 was ahead of its time in terms of camera features. It also had video recording capabilities, a rarity in feature phones of that era. However, the phone did not have a front-facing camera, which has now become an essential feature in today's smartphones.
Entertainment and Communication
Despite being a feature phone, the PG-3500 offered various features for entertainment and communication. It had an MP3 player, predictive text input for messaging, and pre-installed games. Users could also browse the internet using WAP 2.0/xHTML. It was also one of the first phones to have Bluetooth 2.0 for wireless connectivity.
Battery Life and Other Features
The Pantech PG-3500 had a removable Li-Po 800 mAh battery, providing users with up to 230 hours of standby time and 4.5 hours of talk time. It also had an organizer, voice memo, and phonebook capacity for 800 entries with photo call capabilities. The phone came in a sleek black color, making it a popular choice among consumers at the time.
A Legacy Left Behind
Unfortunately, with the emergence of smartphones, the Pantech PG-3500 was discontinued by the company. However, its legacy lives on as one of the devices that paved the way for modern-day smartphones. It's a testament to how technology has evolved over time, and the PG-3500 will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who owned it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Pantech PG-3500 was a must-have device for many in 2005. Its compact design, expandable storage, advanced camera features, and other cutting-edge specifications made it a popular choice among consumers. Although it may be considered outdated now, the impact it made in the mobile phone industry cannot be ignored. The Pantech PG-3500 was truly a trailblazer in its time.
Pantech PG-3500 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2005, Q4
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
92.7 x 45 x 16.4 mm (3.65 x 1.77 x 0.65 in)
Weight
75 g (2.65 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 256K colors
Size
Resolution
176 x 220 pixels
Other
Second external 65K colors TFT display (96 x 128 pixels)
Memory
Card slot
microSD (dedicated slot)
Phonebook
800 entries, Photo call
Call records
20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls
Internal
22MB
Main Camera
Single
1.3 MP
Features
LED flash
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Polyphonic(64), MP3 ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
2.0
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, EMS, MMS
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
MP3 player
Predictive text input
Organizer
Voice memo