Introducing the Samsung i250: The Microsoft Smartphone That Never Was
In 2004, Samsung announced the release of their i250 phone, set to be powered by Microsoft's Smartphone 2003 operating system. However, to the disappointment of many tech enthusiasts, the device never saw the light of day and was ultimately cancelled. Let's take a look at what could have been with this highly anticipated device.
Design and Specifications
Weighing in at 130g and measuring 26mm in thickness, the i250 was a sleek and compact device. It featured a miniSD slot, allowing for expandable storage up to 32MB RAM. The 2G GSM technology allowed for tri-band connectivity on GSM 900, 1800, and 1900 bands. However, unlike its competitors, the i250 did not support EDGE but did have Class 10 GPRS.
The phone was announced in Q1 of 2004 but was soon cancelled, resulting in its dimensions and other specifications to be solely based on rumors and speculations.
Display and Platform
The i250 was equipped with a 176 x 220 pixel TFT display and supported 65K colors. It also featured a second external TFT display with 65K color support and a resolution of 128 x 96 pixels. As mentioned earlier, it was set to run on the Microsoft Smartphone 2003 operating system, providing users with a familiar and user-friendly interface.
Camera and Sound
The device was expected to come with a 1MP main camera and a LED flash, although there is no information on the availability of video capabilities. Unfortunately, the i250 did not have a selfie camera. It also lacked features like loudspeaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which may have been a disappointment for media enthusiasts.
On the other hand, it did offer downloadable polyphonic ringtones and vibrations as alert options.
Connectivity and Features
While the i250 did not have features like WLAN or positioning, it did support Bluetooth and infrared port for data transfer. It also had a proprietary USB port for charging and file transfers. In terms of features, the device had sensors, WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML browsing capabilities, and predictive text input. It also had an MP3 player, voice memo, and several pocket applications like Outlook, Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and ActiveSync.
Battery and Other Details
The device was powered by a removable Li-ion battery. Unfortunately, there is no information on its capacity or talk time. The i250 was expected to come in different color options, but there is no official confirmation on this either.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung i250 was set to be a promising device, especially with Microsoft's Smartphone 2003 operating system. However, for unknown reasons, it never made it to the market. Regardless, it remains an interesting piece of technology, showcasing what could have been possible in the early 2000s.
While we may never know the exact reasons for its cancellation, the i250 serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving world of technology and how even the most highly anticipated devices can sometimes just fade away into obscurity.
Samsung i250 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2004, Q1
Status
Cancelled
Body
Dimensions
94 x 50 x 26 mm (3.70 x 1.97 x 1.02 in)
Weight
130 g (4.59 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
176 x 220 pixels
Other
Second external TFT 65K color display (128 x 96 pixels)
Platform
OS
Microsoft Smartphone 2003
Memory
Card slot
miniSD
Internal
32MB RAM, 64MB ROM
Main Camera
Single
1 MP
Features
LED flash
Video
No
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
Yes
Positioning
No
Infrared port
Yes
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)
Other
Predictive text input
MP3 player
Voice memo
Pocket applications(Outlook, IE, MSN Messenger, ActiveSync)