The Chea 198: A Feature Phone That Made an Impact in 2003
In the fast-paced world of technology, it can be easy to overlook devices that were once considered groundbreaking. In 2003, Chea released the 198, a feature phone that quickly gained attention for its unique design and features. Let's take a closer look at this device and how it made an impact in the mobile industry.
A Revolutionary Design and Operating System
Released in Q2 of 2003, the Chea 198 was a compact and lightweight feature phone, weighing only 80g with a thickness of 20mm. Its dimensions of 106 x 45 x 20 mm made it one of the most portable phones of its time.
The device ran on a feature phone operating system, which allowed basic functions such as calls, texting, and alarms. While many might consider this primitive compared to today's smartphones, the 198's simple design and intuitive user interface attracted a lot of users.
Limited Storage Capacity But Plenty of Features
One of the biggest downsides of the Chea 198 was its lack of a card slot for additional storage. This meant that users had to make do with the internal storage capacity, which could only store up to 100 phonebook contacts. However, the device made up for this with other features such as screensavers, 3 pre-installed games and predictive text input for easier messaging.
Suitable for Basic Communication and Entertainment
The Chea 198 was a GSM device with 2G connectivity bands of GSM 900/1800. It also had a loudspeaker and polyphonic ringtones, making it suitable for basic communication and entertainment. Its FSTN monochrome graphics display, with a resolution of 112 x 64 pixels and aspect ratio of 16:9, provided decent visuals for users to view their messages and screensavers.
Made for Convenience and Long-Lasting Use
The Chea 198 had a removable Li-Ion 650 mAh battery that could last up to 160 hours on standby and up to 3 hours of talk time. This made it an ideal device for those constantly on the go.
The Chea 198: A Device Ahead of its Time
Unfortunately, the Chea 198 was discontinued shortly after its release in 2003. However, this feature phone left a lasting impact on the mobile industry. It paved the way for other compact and lightweight feature phones, setting a trend for more user-friendly, portable devices.
In conclusion, despite its limitations, the Chea 198 remains a significant device in the history of mobile technology. It showed that simple and convenient features can still make a huge impact in the market, even in a time when smartphones were rapidly gaining popularity.
