Philips 588 Unveiling Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Philips 588

The Philips 588, announced in May 2006, is a compact feature phone that was designed for ease of use and basic mobile communication needs. Despite being discontinued, it is remembered for its simplicity and essential features that catered to the requirements of its users during its time on the market.

Network Capabilities

The Philips 588 operates on GSM technology, supporting 2G bands of GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. It also includes GPRS Class 10 for basic data connectivity but does not support EDGE technology. This limited connectivity was typical for feature phones of its era.

Launch and Market Status

The phone was officially announced in May 2006 and was available on the market for several years before being discontinued. During its availability, it carved out a niche for itself among users seeking a straightforward mobile device.

Body and Design

The Philips 588 has a compact design with dimensions of 80 x 42 x 18.6 mm, making it easily portable. Weighing just 78 grams, it is lightweight and fits comfortably in the hand. The phone uses a Mini-SIM card and was available in three colors: Elegant Purple, Reflective White, and Mystery Black.

Display Features

The display on the Philips 588 is a TFT screen capable of showing 65K colors. While the specific size of the display is not detailed, it offers a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels, adequate for viewing basic content and navigation within the phone's interface.

Memory and Data Storage

Internal storage on the Philips 588 is limited to 128MB, with no option for expanding storage through a card slot. The phone's phonebook capacity accommodates up to 500 entries, and it provides the Photocall feature. It maintains a record of the 30 most recent calls, including received, dialed, and missed calls.

Camera Capabilities

The Philips 588 is equipped with a single rear camera with a resolution of 1.3 MP, capable of capturing basic photos. It also supports video recording in SQCIF format. However, the phone does not feature a front-facing camera for selfies.

Audio and Alert Systems

Audio capabilities of the Philips 588 include vibration alerts and downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. There is no loudspeaker or 3.5mm headphone jack, limiting its functionalities in terms of audio output.

Communication Features

The phone does not support WLAN, Bluetooth, or GPS positioning, which are common in modern smartphones. However, it includes an infrared port for data exchange and uses a proprietary USB connection for charging and data transfer. The absence of an FM radio is another limitation in its communication features.

Additional Features

The Philips 588 supports messaging through SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging. The browser supports WAP 2.0/xHTML, providing basic Internet browsing capabilities. It comes preloaded with two games and supports Java MIDP 2.0 applications.

Battery Life

The Philips 588 is powered by a removable Li-Ion 580 mAh battery, which offers a standby time of up to 300 hours and a talk time of up to 5 hours. Despite the small capacity by today's standards, this was adequate for its operational needs at the time.

Conclusion

In summary, the Philips 588 was designed to meet the needs of users seeking a simple and reliable feature phone. Its limited features reflect the standards of mobile technology prevalent during its release. Despite its limitations, it provided essential communication functionalities in a compact and user-friendly design.