The Motorola V295: A Feature Phone That Never Made it to the Market
In the early 2000s, Motorola was one of the top players in the mobile phone market. They were known for their innovative designs and cutting-edge technology. One of their planned releases during this time was the Motorola V295, a feature phone that boasted of a sleek design and multiple features. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the device never made it to the market.
Cancellation of Release
The Motorola V295 was announced in Q3 of 2003 and was expected to be released later that year. However, just a few months before its planned launch, the company decided to cancel its release. This came as a surprise to many, as the device had already gained a lot of attention and was highly anticipated by consumers.
Features and Specifications
The V295 was a feature phone, meaning it did not have all the advanced capabilities of a smartphone. But it still offered some impressive features for its time. It had a mini-SIM card and weighed only 97g with a thickness of 22mm, making it a compact and lightweight device. The main display was a CSTN with 4096 colors and a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. It also had a secondary black and white display.
The phonebook could store up to 500 entries with photo call, and call records could hold 10 dialed, 10 received, and 10 missed calls. In terms of camera, the V295 had a VGA rear camera, but no front camera for selfies. It did not have a memory card slot, but it did support other essential features like SMS, EMS, and MMS messaging, WAP 2.0/xHTML browser, and downloadable games.
Network and Connectivity
The Motorola V295 was a GSM device with 2G bands for GSM 900 and 1800. It also had GPRS for data connectivity. However, it did not have Bluetooth, WLAN, or GPS capabilities. Its only means of connection was through its WAP browser or via USB, which was unspecified in the device's specifications.
Battery Life
The V295 came with a removable Li-Ion battery that could last up to 220 hours on standby and up to 5 hours of talk time. This was considered decent battery life for a feature phone at the time.
The Future That Never Was
The Motorola V295 may not have been released to the market, but it still remains an intriguing device that got many people excited. It would have been interesting to see its reception and how it would have performed against other feature phones in the market at the time. Unfortunately, the cancellation of its release remains a mystery, and the V295 remains a part of Motorola's untold stories.
Final Thoughts
With its compact design, multiple features, and expected competitive pricing, the Motorola V295 could have been a popular choice among feature phone users. It may have been cancelled, but its significance in the company's history cannot be overlooked. Today, the V295 serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving mobile phone industry and the unexpected turns that can happen in the process of creating and releasing new devices.
