Price and specifications of Chea 308 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of Chea 308

The Chea 308 is a feature phone that was announced in the third quarter of 2003. However, it was ultimately cancelled before release. Despite its cancellation, the Chea 308 remains an interesting topic for mobile phone enthusiasts who are curious about the early 2000s mobile technology. In this article, we will explore its specifications, design, features, and the impact it could have had in the market based on the information available.

Network and Connectivity

The Chea 308 supports GSM technology, specifically the 2G network with GSM 900/1800 bands. It offers GPRS capability, thereby allowing for some basic mobile data usage, although EDGE technology is not supported. This level of connectivity was standard for mobile phones in the early 2000s, emphasizing voice communication over data services.

Launch Information

Announced in Q3 of 2003, the Chea 308 was slated to join the growing list of feature phones of its time. However, it was later cancelled, and as a result, it never became available to the public. The reasons for its cancellation are not well-documented, but such events are not uncommon in the mobile industry due to market shifts, strategic refocus, or financial constraints.

Body and Design

The dimensions of the Chea 308 are 109 x 45 x 18 mm, and the device weighs 77 grams. The phone is designed to be compact and lightweight, aligning with the design trends of early 2000s mobile devices which prioritized portability. It uses a Mini-SIM, which was the standard SIM type used in that era.

Display

The Chea 308 features a STN display capable of showing 4096 colors, with a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels at a 1:1 ratio. While not high-definition by today’s standards, this display was adequate for basic tasks such as reading texts or viewing simplistic graphics, which was typical for feature phones of the time.

Memory

Regarding memory, the Chea 308 does not support a memory card slot, which limits its data storage capacity to what is internally provided by the device. The phonebook can store up to 150 entries, a limitation of feature phones of that era. Call records are not specified, but likely include the basics such as missed, received, and dialed calls.

Camera

The Chea 308 does not feature a built-in camera. During the early 2000s, cameras were still becoming standard in mobile phones and were often omitted in more budget-oriented devices to keep costs low.

Sound and Alert Features

The phone lacks a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, relying on its vibration and polyphonic ringtones for alerts. Polyphonic ringtones provided a more harmonious and pleasant sound than the monophonic ringtones of older phones.

Communication and Additional Features

The Chea 308 lacks many of the communication features we consider standard today, like WLAN, Bluetooth, and positioning systems. It doesn’t support radio or USB connectivity. The phone does, however, support basic SMS and MMS messaging, and is equipped with a WAP 1.2 browser, allowing for simple internet tasks. The phone includes three games, providing basic entertainment options.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 650mAh battery, the Chea 308 offers a standby time of up to 150 hours and talk time of up to 5 hours. This battery life was typical for feature phones, which were not as power-hungry as modern smartphones.

Conclusion

While the Chea 308 was ultimately cancelled and never made it to market, its specifications offer a glimpse into the mobile technology landscape of the early 2000s. The phone prioritized basic communication features, compact design, and battery efficiency. Despite its limitations by today's standards, the Chea 308 is a reminder of the pace of technological advancement in mobile devices over the last two decades.