The S1: A Feature Phone That Never Was
In 2005, Sendo announced their latest device, the S1. It was set to be the newest addition to their lineup of feature phones and was highly anticipated by mobile phone enthusiasts. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the S1 was cancelled and never made it onto the market. Let's take a closer look at what could have been.
The Specs
The S1 was set to be a lightweight and compact device, weighing only 83 g (2.93 oz). Its slim dimensions would have made it easy to carry around and store in pockets or bags. The device was designed to have no card slot, meaning users could not expand their storage with an external memory card. This may have been seen as a disadvantage to some, but it was a popular feature for feature phones at the time.
GSM Technology
The S1 was set to support 2G GSM technology, making it compatible with GSM 900 / 1800 bands. This would have allowed users to make calls, send texts, and browse the internet using WAP 2.0/xHTML technology. However, due to its limited network capabilities, users would not have been able to access high-speed internet or use data-heavy applications.
The Display and Memory
The S1 was expected to come with a basic display, measuring at 96 x 64 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio. Users would have been able to customize their display with downloadable wallpapers and animated screensavers. In terms of memory, the S1 did not come with a card slot, so users would have had to make do with the internal phonebook and call records, which only supported 30 received, dialed, and missed calls.
The Camera and Sound
The S1 was not built with a camera, which may have been a downside for some users. However, it did come with the standard vibration alert and downloadable polyphonic ringtones. Unfortunately, there was no 3.5mm jack, so users would have to rely on the device's built-in speaker to listen to audio.
No Extras
The S1 was missing a few extra features that were becoming increasingly popular at the time. There was no WLAN, Bluetooth, or positioning capabilities, making it difficult to connect with other devices or use location-based services. The device also did not come with a radio or USB port, limiting its connectivity options even further.
Battery Life and Availability
The S1 was powered by a removable Li-Ion battery, which could provide up to 425 hours of standby time and 7 hours of talk time. These numbers were impressive for its time and would have allowed users to stay connected for longer periods without having to charge their device. Unfortunately, with its cancellation, the S1 was never released in any colors.
In Conclusion
Although it never made it onto the market, the S1 was an interesting device from Sendo. It had all the basic features of a feature phone, but it lacked some expected extras that could have made it stand out from the competition. Despite its cancellation, the S1 was still a talking point for mobile phone enthusiasts and served as a reminder of what could have been in the world of feature phones.
