The Feature-rich Siemens A51: A Blast from the Past
The year was 2004, and the mobile phone industry was dominated by big names like Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson. It was during this time that Siemens, a German multinational company known for its technological innovations in various industries, released one of its most popular feature phones, the Siemens A51.
Compact and Lightweight
The A51 was a pocket-friendly device that weighed only 84g, with a thickness of 21mm. This made it one of the slimmest and lightest phones of its time. Its dimensions were 103 x 46 x 21 mm, with a 1.81 inch monochrome graphic display.
No Room for External Storage
Unlike many of its competitors, the A51 did not have a memory card slot. However, it did come with a 700 mAh removable Li-Ion battery, which provided a standby time of up to 250 hours and talk time of up to 5 hours.
Basic Network and Communication Features
The A51 was a feature phone that supported only 2G bands, specifically GSM 900/1800. It also had GPRS and SMS/EMS capabilities, which may seem basic now, but were cutting-edge technologies back in the day. Bluetooth, WLAN, and USB were not available on this device, which was primarily designed for communication purposes rather than multimedia usage.
Simple Yet Effective Camera and Sound Capabilities
With its minimalistic approach, the A51 did not have a loudspeaker or a 3.5 mm jack, but it did offer downloadable polyphonic ringtones. The absence of a camera may seem like a disadvantage now, but back then, cameras on phones were not as prevalent as they are today.
A Wealth of Features for Entertainment and Utility
Despite its simple design, the A51 did have some surprisingly useful features. It had a mini-SIM card slot and a phone book with 50 entries. Users could also store up to 10 dialed, received, and missed calls in the call records. It also came with a currency converter, calculator, and screen savers. The A51 even offered two pre-installed games, Stack Attack and Wacko, for some entertainment on-the-go.
Unconventional Design and Color Options
The A51 came in a unique urban grey color, which may not have been the most popular choice back then, but it still stands out as a distinct feature of this device. In addition, it had exchangable covers, allowing users to customize its look and protect it from wear and tear.
Discontinued, but Not Forgotten
The Siemens A51 was announced in Q4 of 2004 and was discontinued after that. However, it remains a significant part of mobile phone history, with its innovative design and features. In fact, its simplicity and practicality make it a desired collectible for many retro tech enthusiasts.
In conclusion, the Siemens A51 may have been released over 15 years ago, but its impact on the mobile phone industry cannot be overlooked. Its compact size, practical features, and unconventional design make it a memorable device in the ever-evolving world of technology.
Siemens A51 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2004, Q4
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
103 x 46 x 21 mm, 75 cc (4.06 x 1.81 x 0.83 in)
Weight
84 g (2.96 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
Monochrome graphic
Size
Resolution
101 x 64 pixels, 5 lines
Other
Screensavers
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
50 entries
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, EMS
Browser
WAP 1.2.1
Games
Stack Attack and Wacko
Java
No
Other
Predictive text input
Currency converter
Calculator
Exchangable covers