Display:240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density)
Camera:1.3 MP
Battery:
Released:Released 2005, September
SP4m i-mate: A Blast From the Past
Do you remember the days when smartphones were still a novelty and not everyone had one in their pocket? If you do, then the SP4m by i-mate might ring a bell. Released back in September 2005, it was one of the first smartphones to feature Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit this classic device.
Design and Display
The SP4m was a sleek and compact device, weighing only 100g and measuring 19mm in thickness. Its dimensions of 109 x 48 x 19 mm (4.29 x 1.89 x 0.75 in) made it easy to hold and carry around. It had a mini-SIM slot and a 2.2 inch TFT display with 65K colors. Although the resolution of 240 x 320 pixels may not seem impressive now, it was considered good for its time and provided a clear display for all your smartphone needs.
Performance and Storage
Equipped with a TI OMAP 850 chipset and a 200 MHz ARM926EJ-S CPU, the SP4m may not have been the most powerful device in its time, but it got the job done. It had 64MB of RAM and 64MB of internal storage, which could be expanded with a miniSD card for additional storage needs. This may not sound like much in today's standards, but back then, it was enough to run basic smartphone applications smoothly.
Camera and Sound
The SP4m had a main camera with 1.3 megapixels, allowing users to capture decent quality photos. It also had a video recording feature, which was not very common in smartphones at that time. As for sound, it had a loudspeaker and downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. Unfortunately, it did not have a 3.5mm jack, but users could still listen to their music through the miniUSB port.
Connectivity and Features
The SP4m was released during a time when smartphones were just starting to become connected devices. It lacked features such as WLAN and GPS, but it did have Bluetooth and an infrared port for data transfer. It also had Microsoft ActiveSync, which allowed users to easily sync their data with their computer. Additionally, it had a WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML browser, and a predictive text input feature for easier typing.
Battery Life and Price
The SP4m was powered by a removable Li-Po 1150 mAh battery, which provided up to 150 hours of standby time and 3 hours of talk time. This may not seem like much compared to today's smartphones, but it was sufficient for its time. The device was priced at around 130 EUR, which was reasonable for a smartphone back in 2005.
Discontinuation and Legacy
Unfortunately, the SP4m was short-lived and was discontinued in the following year. However, it was still able to leave a mark in the history of smartphones as one of the first devices to feature Windows Mobile 5.0. It paved the way for future i-mate devices and set a precedent for the integration of Microsoft's operating system in smartphones.
In conclusion, the SP4m by i-mate may not have been the most revolutionary or advanced smartphone, but it was definitely a pioneer in its time. It offered features that were not common in other devices and introduced users to the world of connected smartphones. It may be a relic now, but it will always hold a special place in the development of modern smartphones.
i-mate SP4m Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2005, September
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
109 x 48 x 19 mm (4.29 x 1.89 x 0.75 in)
Weight
100 g (3.53 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
2.2 inches, 33 x 45 mm, 15.0 cm2 (~28.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution
240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density)
Platform
OS
Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone
Chipset
TI OMAP 850
CPU
200 MHz ARM926EJ-S
Memory
Card slot
miniSD
Internal
64MB RAM, 64MB ROM
Main Camera
Single
1.3 MP
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
1.2
Positioning
No
Infrared port
Yes
Radio
No
USB
miniUSB
Features
Sensors
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)
Other
Microsoft ActiveSync
MP3/AAC player
Predictive text input