The Motorola A728, released in 2005 by Motorola, was an innovative device ahead of its time. This device was equipped with many features that we now commonly use on our smartphones. Despite its release over a decade ago, it is still remembered by many as a game-changing device.
The Specs
The A728 had a slick and compact design with dimensions of 101 x 53 x 21 mm and weighed only 120g. It's thinness and lightness made it easy to carry around and use with one hand. The device was equipped with a resistive touchscreen with TFT technology and support for 65K colors, allowing for a clear and vibrant display. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and a 4:3 ratio, it provided a decent viewing experience for its time.
The device ran on Linux, an operating system that was not commonly used on mobile devices at the time. This made the A728 stand out from other phones on the market. It also had 8MB of internal storage but unfortunately did not have the option for external memory with a card slot. This may seem minuscule compared to the GBs of storage we have on our current smartphones, but back in 2005, it was considered quite impressive.
Connectivity and Features
The A728 was a GSM device with 2G bands for global coverage. It also had GPRS Class 8 for data transfer, but EDGE technology was not available on this device. The phone had Bluetooth and an infrared port for wireless connectivity, but no WLAN or radio. It also had a proprietary USB port for charging and transferring data. One of the standout features of this device was its handwriting and speech recognition capabilities, available in both Chinese and English.
For entertainment purposes, the A728 had a built-in MP3 player and a CIF single-camera that could record videos. Although it did not have a loudspeaker, it did have vibration and downloadable polyphonic or MP3 ringtones for notifications. The device also had an organizer and voice dial/memo features, making it not just a phone but a personal assistant as well.
Battery Life and Final Thoughts
The A728 had a removable Li-Ion battery, which was considered a plus compared to other devices with fixed batteries at the time. It also came in one color, Mr. Black, giving users a sleek and sophisticated look while using the device.
Even though the Motorola A728 was discontinued, it still remains a memorable device for many. Its compact design and advanced features made it stand out from other phones on the market. The A728 may not be comparable to the smartphones we have today, but back in 2005, it was definitely a game-changer in the mobile industry.
