The Impressive SCH-B100: A Feature Phone Ahead of its Time
When it comes to technology, Samsung has always been at the forefront of innovation. And one of their notable releases in 2005 was the SCH-B100 - a feature phone that quickly became a fan favorite due to its impressive features and sleek design.
With its release date in the first quarter of 2005, the SCH-B100 was way ahead of its time. It was one of the first feature phones to offer a camera with 1 megapixel resolution, LED flash, and video recording capabilities of up to 320p. Not to mention, its impressive storage capacity thanks to its MMC slot. Let's dive deeper into what made this device stand out from the rest.
Design and Dimensions
Weighing in at 171g and with a thickness of 25mm, the SCH-B100 may seem bulky compared to our current smartphones, but back in 2005, it was considered lightweight and sleek. Its body dimensions measured at 123 x 49 x 25 mm, making it compact enough to fit into your pocket or purse.
The phone's design is also worth noting with its beautiful silver color, adding a touch of elegance to its already impressive features.
Display and Memory
The SCH-B100 featured a TFT display with 256K colors, providing vibrant and clear visuals. Its resolution of 320 x 240 pixels with a 4:3 ratio made it perfect for viewing photos and videos. But what makes this device unique is its second external display, an STN screen with 65K colors and a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. This external display allowed users to view notifications and caller ID without having to open the phone.
In terms of memory, the SCH-B100 came with an MMC card slot, allowing users to expand their storage capacity. It also had a phonebook with photo call features, where you can assign photos to contacts for easier identification. And with the ability to store up to 20 dialed, received, and missed calls, you'll never have to worry about losing important numbers.
Camera and Sound
As mentioned earlier, the SCH-B100 was ahead of its time with its powerful 1-megapixel camera that came with an LED flash, ensuring well-lit photos even in low light environments. Its video recording capabilities of up to 320p also made it stand out from other feature phones of its time.
In terms of sound, the SCH-B100 featured a loudspeaker and downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones - which was a huge deal back then. However, it did not come with a 3.5mm jack, limiting users to listen to audio through its loudspeaker or proprietary USB port.
Connectivity and Features
The SCH-B100 may not have had Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, but it offered something even more impressive - DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). This feature allows users to watch TV on their phone, making the SCH-B100 ahead of its time in terms of entertainment options.
Other notable features include its WAP 2.0/xHTML browser, games that are downloadable, and the ability to sync contacts and data using the SyncML feature. Its organizer, along with its predictive text input also made it a popular choice for business use.
Battery and Other Information
The SCH-B100 came with a removable Li-Ion 1360 mAh battery that offers a standby time of up to 280 hours and talk time of up to 4 hours. Additionally, it sported a silver color with a SAR EU rating of 0.91 W/kg (head).
Final Thoughts
Even though it has been discontinued, the SCH-B100 will always hold a special place in the hearts of Samsung fans. Its impressive features and sleek design were way ahead of its time and paved the way for future advancements in mobile technology. It will always be remembered as one of Samsung's iconic feature phones that set the standard for what a phone should be.
Samsung SCH-B100 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
No cellular connectivity
2G bands
/ CDMA2000 1x EV-DO
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2005, Q1
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
123 x 49 x 25 mm (4.84 x 1.93 x 0.98 in)
Weight
171 g (6.03 oz)
SIM
No
Display
Type
TFT, 256K colors
Size
Resolution
320 x 240 pixels, 4:3 ratio
Other
Second external display STN, 65K colors (128 x 128 pixels)
Memory
Card slot
MMC
Phonebook
Yes, Photo call
Call records
20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls
Main Camera
Single
1 MP
Features
LED flash
Video
320p
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Java
No
Other
DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting)
TV-out
MP3/AAC player
Predictive text input
SyncML
Organizer