Price and specifications of alcatel OT-818 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview

The Alcatel OT-818 is a feature phone that was released in 2011. It was designed to cater to users looking for a basic mobile device with essential functionalities. Despite its simplicity, the Alcatel OT-818 was equipped with features that catered to the needs of users during its time, including a touchscreen interface and a compact design.

Design and Build

The Alcatel OT-818 boasts a compact and lightweight design, measuring 110.5 x 53.4 x 12.3 mm and weighing just 100.5 g. It featured a Mini-SIM slot and was available in several colors: Steel Grey, Cyber Blue, and Mystery Pink. The device was designed to be user-friendly with its TFT resistive touchscreen, capable of displaying 256K colors. The screen size was 3.2 inches, providing a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, offering a pixel density of approximately 146 ppi. Although the touchscreen was based on resistive technology, it allowed for basic touch interactions prevalent at the time.

Display

The 3.2-inch display of the Alcatel OT-818, with a 5:3 ratio, leveraged a TFT resistive technology. This was a common technology in the early 2010s, though it required more pressure than the later capacitive screens. The screen's resolution of 240x400 pixels provided sufficient clarity for text and basic graphics typical of feature phones.

Performance

Under the hood, the Alcatel OT-818 was powered by a 208 MHz CPU. While this may seem modest by today's standards, it was adequate for running the phone's operating system and pre-installed applications. This feature phone was not built for heavy-duty processing tasks but handled basic communication and multimedia functions efficiently.

Storage and Memory

The internal storage of the Alcatel OT-818 was 50MB, which was typical for feature phones at the time. However, the presence of a microSDHC slot allowed users to expand the memory, a critical feature for users who wanted to store more photos, music, and other media. The phonebook functionality supported photocalls, and the device maintained a log of call records.

Camera

The Alcatel OT-818 came with a single rear 2 MP camera. While this might seem minimal compared to the multi-megapixel cameras in modern smartphones, it was enough to capture basic photos. Additionally, the camera supported video recording, a feature appreciated by users who needed to capture moving moments.

Sound and Multimedia

For multimedia, the device included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to enjoy music and other audio files. The stereo FM radio with RDS functionality offered entertainment options on the go, a favored feature before streaming services became widespread.

Connectivity

Despite being a basic feature phone, the Alcatel OT-818 offered essential connectivity options. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP supported wireless audio streaming, while the microUSB 2.0 port facilitated data transfer between the phone and computers. However, the device did not include WLAN or GPS capabilities.

Network and Communication

The Alcatel OT-818 operated on GSM networks, compatible with 2G bands including GSM 850/900/1800/1900. It supported GPRS Class 12 and EDGE Class 12 for mobile internet connectivity, a standard for feature phones during its release period. The messaging capabilities included SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, and IM, enabling users to stay in touch effectively.

Battery Life

One of the main benefits of the Alcatel OT-818 was its long battery life, thanks to the removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery. The device's standby time was up to 600 hours, with a talk time of up to 10 hours, and music playtime extended up to 20 hours, making it a reliable choice for users who needed a phone that could last all day without frequent charging.

Additional Features

The Alcatel OT-818 included various features to enhance user experience. It had an accelerometer sensor contributing to user interface interactions. The device supported Java via MIDP 2.1, allowing users to run basic Java applications and enjoy pre-installed games. Additionally, a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser was included for basic web browsing capabilities.

Market Positioning

At the time of its release, the Alcatel OT-818 was positioned as an affordable yet functional mobile device. It targeted consumers seeking an entry-level phone that offered more than just voice calls and SMS. Its combination of basic multimedia features and extended battery life made it a practical choice for many users.

Conclusion

The Alcatel OT-818 served as a reliable feature phone during its time, combining essential communication features with multimedia capabilities. While it lacks the advanced functionalities and performance seen in modern smartphones, it was a fitting choice for users who valued simplicity, affordability, and battery longevity in a mobile device. Even after being discontinued, it remains a representative example of feature phones from the early 2010s.