Alcatel OT 556 A Comprehensive Guide to Features Pricing and Performance

Introduction

The Alcatel OT 556 is a feature phone that was announced in the first quarter of 2004. It represents the era of early mobile technology when functionality was beginning to expand beyond mere calling and texting. This device, like many of its time, focused on providing basic communication services along with limited multimedia support.

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT 556 is designed with practicality in mind, measuring 108 x 48 x 21 mm and weighing just 93 g. This compact size made it comfortably portable. The phone’s sturdy plastic construction aimed to offer durability, while the Mini-SIM format was standard for the time, ensuring compatibility with most network providers.

Display and Interface

Equipped with a CSTN display, the Alcatel OT 556 offered a screen resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. It supported 65K colors, which was typical for feature phones of its era, providing users with a decent viewing experience for basic graphics and menu navigation. The phone did not feature touchscreen capabilities, as it relied on physical buttons for navigation and input.

Camera

The Alcatel OT 556 included a VGA camera with 0.3MP capacity, allowing users to capture simple photos. While this specification seems primitive compared to modern smartphones, it represented a basic entry into mobile photography in 2004. The device did not support video recording.

Battery Life

This device came with a removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery. Despite the high energy consumption of comparable phones today, the OT 556's battery provided up to 270 hours of standby time and up to 6 hours of talk time. This efficient battery life was a significant advantage, catering to users who needed a reliable phone for communication without frequent recharges.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM technology, the Alcatel OT 556 functioned on 900, 1800, and 1900 band frequencies, making it operable in multiple regions. For data, it offered GPRS class 10, but did not support the faster EDGE technology. It lacked Bluetooth, WLAN, and GPS capabilities, common omissions in feature phones of this period, yet included an infrared port for limited data transfer functions.

Storage and Memory

Internally, the Alcatel OT 556 offered 2MB of storage, without the option for expansion through a card slot. This memory capacity sufficed for storing contacts and a few multimedia files, reflecting the then prevalent prioritization of minimalistic data storage. The phonebook could save up to 500 contacts with multiple fields, including a photo call feature, and it also stored recent call logs.

Sound and Multimedia

The device supported downloadable polyphonic ringtones and featured a vibration alert, but it did not include a loudspeaker or a 3.5mm audio jack, signaling its limited focus on audio entertainment. The multimedia capabilities were extended by the inclusion of games like SpeedDevils and GylosTale, with the option for downloadable games as well.

Software and Features

This Alcatel model ran on a basic proprietary operating system typical of feature phones, supporting SMS, EMS, and MMS for messaging. It included a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser, offering rudimentary internet access for web navigation. Java support allowed downloads of additional applications to enhance functionality.

Conclusion

The Alcatel OT 556 is a testament to the early days of phone technology, offering basic communication tools in a durable, user-friendly design. While lacking the advanced features found in modern smartphones, it provided essential functionalities for its time. As a discontinued model, it serves as a nostalgic reminder of how far mobile devices have evolved.