Motorola M3288 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Motorola M3288

Released in 1999, the Motorola M3288 marked a significant era in mobile phone technology. As a feature phone, it was designed to cater to basic communication needs at a time when smartphones were still a futuristic concept. The phone was known for its durability, simplistic design, and essential features that appealed to a broad audience at the time.

Network Technology

The Motorola M3288 operated on GSM technology, specifically supporting the 900/1800 MHz bands. Unlike the more advanced mobile devices of today, this phone did not have support for GPRS or EDGE networks, emphasizing its fundamental role as a communication device.

Design and Build

The phone's physical dimensions were 140 x 50 x 25 mm, with a volume of 150 cc, making it a relatively compact device for its time. Weighing 170 grams, it was heavier than many of today's smartphones, but its weight contributed to its overall robustness. The M3288 used a Mini-SIM card, which was the standard at the time.

Display

The Motorola M3288 featured a monochrome graphic display with a resolution of 96 x 32 pixels. The screen was capable of displaying up to four lines of text with twelve characters per line. This simple display was sufficient for reading messages and viewing basic phone data without consuming excessive battery life.

Memory and Storage

This device did not come equipped with expandable storage options, such as a memory card slot. The phonebook relied solely on SIM card storage, which was typical for phones of that era. Call records were limited to 10 dialed calls, 5 received calls, and 5 missed calls, reflecting the phone's focus on voice communication over data storage.

Sound and Alerts

Sound capabilities on the M3288 were basic. It did not include a loudspeaker and used monophonic ringtones for alerts. Furthermore, it lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, emphasizing its role as a straightforward communication device without multimedia functionalities.

Communication Features

The phone's communication abilities were limited to sending and receiving SMS messages. It lacked advanced features such as WLAN, Bluetooth, and GPS, focusing solely on its primary purpose as a mobile phone. The absence of a built-in radio and USB support highlighted the device's simplicity.

Additional Features

Additional functionalities of the Motorola M3288 included support for messaging in up to 27 languages. However, it did not feature a web browser, clock, alarm, or games, underlining its primarily utilitarian nature. The lack of Java support also meant that the device could not run additional applications or modifications.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable NiMH battery with a capacity of 700 mAh. Remarkably, this provided up to 110 hours of standby time and around 230 minutes of talk time, a testament to the phone's efficient power usage, owing to the absence of power-draining features found in contemporary smartphones.

Legacy and Discontinuation

The Motorola M3288 was eventually discontinued, as the mobile industry rapidly advanced towards more sophisticated and feature-rich phones. Despite its basic functionality by today's standards, it served as a foundation for the development of future mobile technology, illustrating the evolution of consumer expectations and technological capabilities over time.