In 2004, Alcatel released one of their most iconic devices - the OT 156. It may not have been as technologically advanced as smartphones of today, but it was ahead of its time as a feature phone. Let's take a closer look at what made the OT 156 stand out.
Design and Dimensions
At just 80g and 20mm thickness, the OT 156 was one of the lightest and thinnest phones of its time. Its compact size made it easy to carry around and its sleek design appealed to many. The device had a candy bar shape with a miniature SIM card slot, which was a standard in those days.
Display and Memory
For its time, the OT 156 had an impressive LCD display with 4096 colors. Its resolution of 101 x 80 pixels may seem small now, but it was top-notch back then. Users could also download logos to personalize their phone. In terms of memory, the device did not have a card slot, but it could store up to 100 fields in its phonebook and record up to 10 dialed, received, and missed calls.
Features and Apps
The OT 156 came with WAP 1.2.1 browser, allowing users to connect to the internet and access basic websites. It also had 3 built-in games - Snake, Bricks, and Brain Activity - to keep users entertained. The phone also had predictive text input and practical features such as a calculator, currency convertor, and diary.
Connectivity and Battery Life
While the OT 156 lacked modern-day connectivity options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it did have GSM network technology and could support 2G bands of GSM 900/1800. It also had a removable Li-Ion 720 mAh battery with an impressive standby time of up to 320 hours and talk time of up to 6 hours.
Discontinuation
Unfortunately, the OT 156 was discontinued after its release in the first quarter of 2004. But for the next few years, it remained a popular choice among feature phone users.
Overall, the OT 156 was a trendsetter in the early 2000s. Its compact design, impressive display, and basic but practical features were a hit among phone users. While it may not be revolutionary now, it certainly paved the way for feature phones to become an essential part of our daily lives.
Alcatel OT 156 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2004, Q1
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
101 x 46 x 20 mm (3.98 x 1.81 x 0.79 in)
Weight
80 g (2.82 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
LCD, 4096 colors
Size
Resolution
101 x 80 pixels
Other
Downloadable logos
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
100 fields
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS
Browser
WAP 1.2.1
Games
3 - Snake, Bricks and Brain Activity
Java
No
Other
Predictive text input
Calculator
Currency convertor
Diary