If you were a mobile phone user in the early 2000s, chances are you've probably heard of or owned a Motorola V220. Released in 2003, Q4, this feature phone was considered compact and advanced for its time. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the features of the iconic V220.
A Stylish Yet Compact Design
The V220 had a sleek and compact design, with dimensions of 85.5 x 44 x 24 mm and weighing only 100g. Its body was made of black or silver plastic, giving it a modern and stylish look. It also featured a second external display, measuring 96 x 32 pixels, to quickly check notifications without opening the phone.
Display and Memory
The V220 came with a CSTN display and supported up to 65K colors. Its screen measured 128 x 128 pixels, with a 1:1 ratio, and offered customizable screensavers and wallpapers. It also had a limited internal memory of 1.8MB, but unfortunately, did not have a card slot for expandable storage.
Communication and Connectivity
The V220 was a GSM phone that supported 2G bands of GSM 900/1800/1900. It also had GPRS Class 10 for internet connectivity, but no EDGE support. Despite lacking Bluetooth, WLAN, and radio, the V220 offered SMS, EMS, and MMS for messaging and had a browser that supported WAP 2.0/xHTML.
Capture Memories With Its VGA Camera
In an era where camera phones were just emerging, the V220 came equipped with a single VGA camera. While it couldn't capture videos, it was enough to take and save photos for personal keepsakes.
Battery Life That Was Ahead Of Its Time
One of the V220's impressive features was its battery life. It had a removable Li-Ion 860 mAh battery (BX200), which could last up to 216 hours on standby and up to 5 hours of talk time. For a feature phone released in 2003, this was an impressive feat.
Other Features
Aside from its basic functions, the V220 also came loaded with a few extra features. It had downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones, and users could also create their own ringtones using the composer feature. The phone also had a predictive text input system called iTAP, making messaging a breeze. Additional games such as Hungry Fish and OptItOut were also available for entertainment.
The End of an Era
Sadly, after its release in 2003, the V220 was discontinued. However, it remains a highly sought-after collector's item for mobile phone enthusiasts. Its simplicity, compact design, and advanced features for its time made it a popular choice among consumers.
So if you happen to come across a Motorola V220 in your old electronics drawer, take a moment to reminisce about the days of snapping your phone shut to end a call and customizing your screensaver. The V220, although long gone, will always hold a special place in the mobile phone history books.
Motorola V220 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2003, Q4
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
85.5 x 44 x 24 mm, 80 cc (3.37 x 1.73 x 0.94 in)
Weight
100 g (3.53 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
CSTN, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
128 x 128 pixels, 1:1 ratio
Other
Second external display 96 x 32 pixels
Screensavers and wallpapers
Downloadable logos