The Disappointment of the Bird M19: A Cancelled Device
The year was 2005, and cellphones were steadily gaining popularity. Many companies were releasing new and improved versions of feature phones, and among them was the Bird M19. With high hopes and excitement surrounding its release, customers were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the device.
However, much to everyone's disappointment, the Bird M19 was eventually cancelled and never made it to the market. Let us examine this device and understand why it became a mere memory instead of a popular phone.
The Brand and Specs
The Bird M19 was a product of the company Bird, a leading Chinese manufacturer of mobile devices. The phone had a simple design and was relatively lightweight, weighing only 82g with a thickness of 15.2mm. Its operating system was a basic feature phone, which may have been one of the reasons for its downfall.
The Network and Launch
The Bird M19 was a GSM phone, supporting 2G bands of GSM 900 and 1800. It also had GPRS but lacked EDGE technology. Despite its announcement in Q3 of 2005, the phone never made it to stores as it was ultimately cancelled.
The Display and Memory
Featuring a TFT display with 65K colors, the M19 had a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. It had a decent internal storage capacity of 32MB, but unfortunately, it did not have a card slot for expandable storage. The phonebook could hold up to 300 entries with 5 fields each, along with photo call support. However, the call record history was limited to only 20 dialed, 20 received, and 20 missed calls.
The Camera and Sound
The Bird M19 had a single VGA camera but lacked video capabilities. It also did not have a front-facing camera, which may have been unappealing to customers. Furthermore, the M19 did not have a loudspeaker, and its vibration settings were the only way to receive notifications. The lack of a 3.5mm jack meant that users could not plug in headphones or external speakers.
The Connectivity and Features
The M19 had no built-in support for WLAN or Bluetooth connections. It also lacked positioning capabilities and did not come with a built-in radio. The only option for connectivity was through its proprietary USB connector.
As for its features, the Bird M19 had a limited selection. It did not have any sensors, and the messaging options were limited to SMS and MMS. The browser was a basic WAP 2.0/xHTML, and the only entertainment option was a few pre-installed games.
The Battery and Final Thoughts
The M19 ran on a removable Li-Ion battery, which could last up to 150 standby hours and 4 hours of talk time. It was available in a silver color but did not have any other color options.
In conclusion, the Bird M19 may have had a decent design and some useful features, but it ultimately fell short in many areas when compared to other phones released at the time. Its lack of advanced technology and limited features may be why it was canceled before its launch. While it may have been a letdown for its hopeful audience, the Bird M19 will always serve as a reminder of the ever-evolving world of technology.
Bird M19 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2005, Q3
Status
Cancelled
Body
Dimensions
106 x 44 x 15.2 mm (4.17 x 1.73 x 0.60 in)
Weight
82 g (2.89 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
128 x 160 pixels
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
300 x 5 fields, Photo call
Call records
20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls
Internal
32MB
Main Camera
Single
VGA
Video
No
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, MMS
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
MP3 Player
Predictive text input
Voice memo
Calculator
Currency convertor