The Sharp GX20: A Revolutionary Feature Phone Released in 2003
In the early 2000s, the mobile phone industry was rapidly advancing with the introduction of new technologies and features. In this competitive market, Sharp, a Japanese multinational corporation known for its innovative electronic products, released the GX20 in the third quarter of 2003. This stylish and user-friendly device quickly gained popularity among consumers as it offered a variety of features at an affordable price. Let's take a closer look at what made the Sharp GX20 stand out from other feature phones of its time.
Design and Display
Measuring only 25mm in thickness and weighing about 102g, the Sharp GX20 was compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It had a classic clamshell design with a sleek, matte finish. The phone also featured a second external display, providing users with quick access to notifications and basic functions such as time and date.
The device boasted a main CGS display with 65K colors, making it one of the few feature phones of its time to offer such impressive color depth. The 240 x 320 resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio provided a clear and crisp viewing experience. Additionally, the four-way navigation buttons and a status light in seven colors added to the user-friendly design of the Sharp GX20.
Memory and Camera
Although the Sharp GX20 did not have a memory card slot, it offered ample storage with its 2MB internal memory. This allowed users to store up to 500 contacts and 10 call records. The phone also had a main VGA camera with LED flash, enabling users to capture decent quality photos and record videos.
Connectivity and Features
The Sharp GX20 was a GSM device with support for 2G bands, including GSM 900,1800, and 1900. It also had Class 8 GPRS for internet connectivity. However, the phone did not have other features such as WLAN, Bluetooth, or positioning system. Nevertheless, it did offer Infrared port, allowing users to transfer data easily between devices.
The Sharp GX20 was equipped with various messaging options, including SMS, EMS, and MMS. It also had a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for basic internet browsing. The phone featured Java, enabling users to download and play games. Other notable features include predictive text input and voice memo.
Battery Life
The Sharp GX20 had a removable Li-Ion 720 mAh battery, which provided a stand-by time of up to 250 hours and a talk time of up to 3 hours and 30 minutes. This was considered satisfactory for a feature phone at the time.
Discontinued but Not Forgotten
The Sharp GX20 was announced in 2003 and discontinued soon after. However, it still holds a special place in the hearts of mobile phone enthusiasts who appreciated its innovative features and design. The GX20 paved the way for future advancements in the mobile phone industry and will always be remembered as a revolutionary device from Sharp.
In conclusion, the Sharp GX20 was a groundbreaking feature phone released in 2003. With its impressive design, display, camera, and features, it offered users a great mobile experience. Despite being discontinued, it will always be remembered as a stepping stone in the evolution of mobile phones.
Sharp GX20 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 8
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2003, Q3
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
95 x 49 x 25 mm (3.74 x 1.93 x 0.98 in)
Weight
102 g (3.60 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
CGS, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio
Other
Second external display (80 x 60 pixels), 65K colors
Four-way navigation
Status light in 7 colors
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
500 entries, Photo call
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Internal
2MB
Main Camera
Single
VGA
Features
LED flash
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, recorded ringtones, composer