Bird S698 Unveiling Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Bird S698 was announced in the third quarter of 2005, though unfortunately, it never made it to the market as its launch was ultimately cancelled. Nonetheless, its design offers insight into the mobile trends of its time. With dimensions of 104.3 x 15.7 x 44 mm and weighing only 73 grams, the Bird S698 was compact and lightweight, fitting comfortably into the pocket. The device was built to house a Mini-SIM card, a common choice during that era.

Display

The Bird S698 boasted a CSTN display, capable of showing 65K colors—a standard specification for feature phones at the time. Although the exact size of the screen was not specified, it had a square resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. This design, while quite basic compared to modern standards, was functional enough for the relatively simple tasks that the phone was intended to perform.

Network Technology

This device was designed to operate on GSM networks, specifically on the 900 and 1800 bands, which were commonly used worldwide for voice communication. However, it should be noted that the phone did not support GPRS or EDGE services, limiting it to voice calls and text messages (SMS) without any mobile data capabilities.

Memory and Storage

The Bird S698 was equipped to handle basic contact storage, with a phonebook capacity of up to 100 entries. Additionally, it could keep track of 20 dialed, 20 received, and 20 missed calls. However, it did not offer any expandable memory slot for additional storage, reflecting the limited requirements for data storage in the feature phones of that time.

Camera

In line with many feature phones from the early 2000s, the Bird S698 did not feature a camera. The absence of photographic capabilities meant that users relied on the phone primarily for communication purposes rather than multimedia functions.

Sound Features

Audio features on the Bird S698 were minimal, offering polyphonic ringtones (up to 16 tones) and vibration alerts. However, it lacked a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which limited its utility for on-the-go listening or hands-free communication.

Communication and Connectivity

The Bird S698 did not come with many of the connectivity options we take for granted today. It had no WLAN, Bluetooth, positioning technology, or radio. Essentially, it focused on providing basic mobile telephony services without additional modern connectivity features.

Additional Features and Functionality

The phone supported SMS messaging and included two basic games for entertainment, keeping with the simplicity ethos of feature phones. It did not support Java applications, which would have otherwise expanded its functionality through third-party apps.

Battery Performance

Powered by a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 900mAh, the Bird S698 offered respectable battery life for a feature phone. It was capable of providing up to 75 hours of standby time and up to 3 hours of talk time, which was adequate given its limited functionalities and lack of power-hungry features like cameras or high-resolution screens.

Conclusion

The Bird S698 was a representation of mobile phone technology in the mid-2000s, offering a basic set of features that prioritized communication through calls and messages. Its design and feature set were typical of feature phones before the widespread adoption of smartphones. Given its cancelled status, the Bird S698 remains a footnote in the history of mobile technology, showcasing the iterative design processes and market dynamics of its time.