The BenQ U700: A Classic Feature Phone That Never Made It
In 2005, BenQ announced the release of its latest feature phone, the U700. With its slim design and advanced features, it was set to take the market by storm. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the device was cancelled before it even hit the shelves.
The U700's Specifications
The U700 was a lightweight device, weighing in at just 135g and measuring 27mm in thickness. It had a miniSD slot for expandable storage, allowing users to store more photos, music, and videos on their device. As a feature phone, it did not have access to the internet, but users could still save and send photos through MMS and email.
The Network and Release Date
The U700 was a GSM device, with 2G bands supporting the frequencies of GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. It had GPRS capabilities but did not support EDGE technology. The phone was announced in Q1 of 2005, but unfortunately, it never made it to market due to its cancellation.
The U700's Design and Display
The U700 had a compact body, measuring 97 x 46 x 27 mm, making it easy to carry around. It had a 1.3 MP camera with an LED flash, allowing users to capture decent quality photos. The phone also had a TFT display with 256K colors and a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Users could personalize their device by setting wallpapers and downloading pictures from their computer.
Memory and Main Camera
The U700 had a miniSD card slot for extra storage and could store up to 500 entries in its phonebook. It also had space for 10 dialed, 10 received, and 10 missed calls in its call records. The phone's main camera had a 1.3 MP resolution and could capture decent quality photos and record videos.
The U700's Sound and Communication Features
One setback of the U700 was that it did not have a loudspeaker, but users could still feel incoming calls with the vibration function. It also had downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones for customization. The device did not have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities, but users could still transfer data through its infrared port. The device also had a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for basic internet browsing.
The U700's Features and Battery Life
The device had standard features for its time, such as a photo editor and organizer, allowing users to edit and manage their media and files. It also had an MP3/MP4 player for entertainment on the go and the iTap feature for predictive typing. The U700 had a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh, providing up to 200 hours of standby time and 4 hours of talk time.
In conclusion, despite never making it to the market, the BenQ U700 was a promising device with advanced features and a sleek design. Although it is now considered a classic feature phone, it would have been a popular choice back in its day. The U700 may be forgotten, but its specs and features will always be remembered by those who were eagerly awaiting its release.
