Nokia 7700 Complete Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Introduction to Nokia 7700

The Nokia 7700 was a highly anticipated device announced in the fourth quarter of 2003. Although it was ultimately cancelled, this device was a clear representation of Nokia's ambition to innovate in the realm of smart mobile technology. It was designed to be a groundbreaking device during an era where mobile phones were predominantly used for calling and messaging. The 7700 aimed to merge communications, multimedia, and internet access, which, at that time, was a novelty.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 134 x 80 x 22 mm and a weight of 183 grams, the Nokia 7700 had a distinctive design that set it apart from typical candybar phones of that period. Its large body was crafted to support a robust set of features, notably the TFT resistive touchscreen, a feature rare for devices at the time. The device was elegant, yet hefty, and was slated to be available in two colors: Black and White. Despite its cancellation, the design was a preview of what would become common in the smartphone designs we see today, which emphasize larger, touch-enabled screens.

Display

The Nokia 7700 featured a 3.5-inch TFT resistive touchscreen capable of displaying 65K colors. The resolution was 640 x 320 pixels—a respectable specification that delivered vibrant and clear visuals. The screen contributed to approximately 29.5% of the screen-to-body ratio, distinguishing it as one of the earliest iterations of a focus on display-centric device design. This forward-thinking approach was reflective of Nokia's vision for a multimedia-rich experience.

Platform and Operating System

Operating on the Symbian OS with Series 90 UI, version .2.0, the Nokia 7700 was built to support a host of applications and features that were advanced at the time. Driven by a TI OMAP 1510 chipset and a 150 MHz ARM925T CPU, the device was equipped for moderate multitasking and processing multimedia content. Symbian was a popular OS during the early 2000s, known for its stability and efficiency on mobile devices, providing a smooth user experience.

Memory and Storage

The Nokia 7700 came with 25MB of internal storage and an MMC card slot for expandability. An included 64MB MMC card provided additional storage space, a necessity given the multimedia ambitions of the device. Memory constraints were typical for the period, and the device's capability to expand storage was a welcome feature for power users needing additional capacity for applications and media files.

Camera Capabilities

The device featured a VGA camera—a 0.3MP shooter capable of capturing basic photographic content and video recording. While minimal by today’s standards, having any camera built into a phone was novel at the time. The primary camera was designed for users beginning to explore mobile photography, aligning with the burgeoning trend of photo sharing and multimedia messaging.

Connectivity and Communication

For communications, the Nokia 7700 supported GSM networks on 900/1800/1900 bands and had both GPRS and EDGE technology Class 10, which facilitated relatively fast data connectivity for the period. Although WLAN was not supported, the device offered Bluetooth, FM radio, and a USB Pop-Port for connecting peripherals or synchronizing data with a PC, reflecting the growing importance of wireless connectivity.

Audio and Multimedia

Despite lacking a 3.5mm audio jack, the Nokia 7700 included a loudspeaker and supported polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. The FM radio feature was particularly popular, providing users with on-the-go access to music and news broadcasts. Audio features were further complemented by the device's multimedia capabilities, which included applications for consuming various types of content.

Browser and Internet Services

The Nokia 7700 was equipped with WAP, xHTML, and HTML (Opera) browsers, enabling internet browsing. This was a key differentiator, as mobile internet was burgeoning and not widely available on all devices. The inclusion of Opera’s mobile browser hinted at an integrated multimedia and online experience, emphasizing Nokia's aim to fuel the convergence of internet services and mobile devices.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Po 1300 mAh battery (BP-5L), the Nokia 7700 claimed a standby time of up to 240 - 264 hours and talk time of up to 3 - 4 hours. Battery life was considered decent, allowing users to experience the device's multimedia and communication features without frequent recharging, although continuous heavy usage—especially internet activities—could quickly deplete power.

The Cancellation

Despite its promising features, the Nokia 7700 was never commercially released. It was cancelled for reasons undisclosed by Nokia, but speculation suggests market viability issues or strategic shifts towards new product lines. The device's cancellation was a setback, yet it paved the way for lessons that informed future Nokia devices and designs that would later see success.

Conclusion

The Nokia 7700, although never released, remains an interesting chapter in mobile phone innovation history. It showcased a forward-thinking approach to mobile devices, blending communication, multimedia, and internet access, encapsulating what would become the standard for future smartphones. While the 7700 didn't make it to market, it undeniably contributed to the evolution of mobile technology.