The Innovative Xenium 9@9i: A Feature Phone Ahead of its Time
In the early 2000s, the mobile phone market was dominated by Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung. But in 2005, Philips entered the scene with their unique feature phone - the Xenium 9@9i. This sleek and compact device was a game-changer for its time, boasting impressive tech specs that set it apart from its competitors.
Release and Design
The Xenium 9@9i was released in the first quarter of 2005, making its debut in the mobile phone industry. Weighing only 104g and measuring 25.3mm in thickness, this device was incredibly lightweight and compact. It also had curved edges and a compact keypad, making it comfortable to hold and use.
A Step Ahead in Technology
The Xenium 9@9i ran on a feature phone operating system and had a limited 20MB storage capacity with no option for external storage. However, it made up for this with its advanced network technology - GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - and GPRS class 10 for faster internet connectivity. It also had a UFB display with 65K colors, a step-up from the 256-color displays of that time. The phone's main attraction was its second external monochrome display, allowing users to view notifications and time without opening the device.
Entertainment Features
For entertainment, the Xenium 9@9i offered downloadable screensavers, wallpapers, and logos, giving users the freedom to customize their phone's appearance. It also had a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera, a rare feature in feature phones at that time. However, the phone did not have a selfie camera or video recording capabilities.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Xenium 9@9i may have lacked Bluetooth, WLAN, and GPS, but it did have an infrared port for wireless file transfers. It also had SMS, MMS, and email capabilities, as well as a WAP browser for basic internet browsing. Users could also download Java games and utilize predictive text input for ease of typing. The phone's other features included a voice memo recorder, world clock, and organizer.
Battery Life and Color Options
The Xenium 9@9i boasted an impressive battery life with its removable Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery. It could last up to 720 hours on standby and up to 8.5 hours of talk time, making it a reliable device for long days out. The phone was available in three color options - Executive Silver, Superior Titanium, and Royal Blue - catering to different style preferences.
A Device Ahead of its Time
The Philips Xenium 9@9i may have been discontinued, but it left a lasting impact on the mobile phone industry. Its innovative features, sleek design, and reliable battery life set the foundation for future smartphone developments. Although it may seem outdated now, back in 2005, this feature phone was truly ahead of its time.
Philips Xenium 9@9i Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2005, Q1
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
89.7 x 46.5 x 25.3 mm, 95 cc (3.53 x 1.83 x 1.00 in)
Weight
104 g (3.67 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
UFB, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
128 x 160 pixels, 7 lines
Other
Second external monochrome display (80 x 48 pixels)
Screensavers and wallpapers
Downloadable logos
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
1000 x 5 fields, Photo call
Call records
30 received, dialed and missed calls
Internal
20MB
Main Camera
Single
1.3 MP
Video
No
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Infrared port
Yes
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes + Java downloadable
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
Predictive text input
Voice memo (up to 30 min.)
Organizer
World clock