Introducing the Philips Xenium 9@9: A Feature Phone Ahead of its Time
In the year 2000, the mobile phone market was dominated by basic feature phones. However, Philips decided to shake things up with the release of their groundbreaking device, the Xenium 9@9. Even though it has been discontinued for many years now, it remains an iconic device in the history of mobile phones.
A Modern Design
The Philips Xenium 9@9 was a sleek and compact phone, weighing only 95g and measuring a mere 22mm in thickness. With its Mini-SIM card slot and soft key buttons, it was easy to use and carry around. The phone came in four different colors, giving users the opportunity to choose the one that suited their style.
A Monochrome Display
One of the defining features of the Xenium 9@9 was its monochrome graphic display. While most phones at the time had low-resolution color screens, Philips opted for a simple yet effective display with 5 lines of text. The phone also had a traditional keypad layout and navigation buttons, making it easy for users to adapt to.
Basic Features, Forward-Thinking Technology
Despite being a feature phone, the Xenium 9@9 had some impressive capabilities. It was equipped with a predictive text input feature, allowing users to type faster and more accurately. It also had voice dial and command, making it convenient for users to make calls without having to physically press buttons. Additionally, the phone had a picture messaging feature, which was ahead of its time considering that most phones at the time could only send text messages.
Long Battery Life
The Xenium 9@9 was powered by a removable Li-Ion battery, which had an impressive standby time of up to 600 hours. This was almost unheard of in phones back then and allowed users to go days without needing to charge their device. The talk time also ranged from 3 to 7 hours, depending on usage.
A Pioneer in its Time
The Philips Xenium 9@9 was not just a simple feature phone; it was a pioneer in its time. Released in the year 2000, it was one of the first phones to have advanced features such as predictive text input and voice recognition. It showed the world that basic feature phones could also be innovative and ahead of their time.
Even though the Xenium 9@9 may not have all the bells and whistles of modern smartphones, it will always hold a special place in the history of mobile phones. Its simple yet effective design, long-lasting battery life, and forward-thinking technology make it a true gem in the world of mobile devices.
Philips Xenium 9@9 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
No
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2000
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
109 x 41 x 22 mm, 85 cc (4.29 x 1.61 x 0.87 in)
Weight
95 g (3.35 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
Monochrome graphic
Size
Resolution
5 lines
Other
Soft keys
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Monophonic ringtones, composer
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS
Browser
WAP
Clock
Yes
Alarm
Yes
Games
Bricks
Java
No
Other
Predictive text input
Voice dial
Voice command
Picture messaging
Organizer