Samsung T739 Katalyst Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview

The Samsung T739 Katalyst was released in 2007 and represented a significant step towards blending traditional mobile phone functionality with more advanced features. Even though it has been discontinued, the Katalyst remains an interesting device to explore due to its unique combination of basic utility and early attempts at integrating wireless connectivity options.

Network Capabilities

In terms of network technology, the Samsung T739 Katalyst operates on GSM technology, a staple in early mobile communication. It supports a range of frequencies including GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, which means it was capable of providing decent coverage worldwide. The phone also supported GPRS (Class 10) as well as EDGE (Class 10), offering users semi-decent speeds for data, allowing for basic internet browsing capabilities that were quite adequate for the time.

Launch Details

Announced in November 2007 and released a month later, the Katalyst saw a brief market run before being discontinued. During its time, it garnered attention due to its sleeker design and some of the connectivity features that were not typical in all phones of that era.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 100.8 x 50.3 x 16.5 mm and a weight of 116 g, the Samsung T739 Katalyst presents a compact design typical of its time, using a silver color scheme. It operated with a Mini-SIM, which was the standard of the time. Although not extraordinarily light or slim by today's standards, it was considered compact and comfortable for its release period.

Display Characteristics

The display is a 2.1-inch TFT screen capable of showing 256K colors. It offers a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, which translates to approximately 134 pixels per inch. This screen-to-body ratio sat at 27.4%, making it functional though not incredibly immersive. The display was suitable for handling basic tasks and viewing images taken by its camera.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Katalyst comes with 5MB of storage, which was bare minimum during its time, primarily serving the purpose of phonebook and call records storage which included 1000 entries, and logs for 30 dialed, 30 received, and 30 missed calls. For users needing additional storage for media, a dedicated microSDHC slot was available.

Camera Features

The main camera on the Katalyst is a single 1.3 MP shooter, which might seem incredibly basic now but was standard for phones at the time. The camera is capable of basic video capture, offering users a simple way to take photos and record snippets of video, though without advanced imaging capabilities.

Audio and Connectivity

In terms of sound, the Katalyst is equipped with a loudspeaker and supports vibration alerts along with downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. Notably, the phone lacks a 3.5mm jack, a decision that was beginning to surface in some mobile devices even during that time. For wireless communication, the phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g exclusively for UMA services, Bluetooth, but lacks built-in positioning and radio capabilities. Connectivity extends through a proprietary USB connector.

Additional Features

The Samsung T739 Katalyst comes equipped with basic messaging services including SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging capabilities. The browser is WAP 2.0/xHTML, allowing users to surf simplified web pages. Java support (MIDP 2.0) is provided, enabling some level of applications and games, further increasing the phone’s utility.

Battery Performance

Powering the Katalyst is a removable Li-Ion 960 mAh battery. This battery provides up to 240 hours of standby time and about 5 hours of talk time, which was relatively good for phones released during this period. The removable aspect of the battery allowed users to easily replace it if needed, something not commonly found in more modern devices.

Miscellaneous

The phone was only available in a silver color, with SAR levels measuring at 0.62 W/Kg for the head and 0.47 W/Kg for the body, adhering to safety standards of that time. At launch, the cost of the phone was approximately 70 EUR, a price reflecting its feature phone status combined with some more modern specifications for the era.

Conclusion

The Samsung T739 Katalyst, while now considered outmoded, painted a glimpse into the direction where mobile technology was headed. It tried to somewhat merge the ease and simplicity of a classic mobile phone with emerging wireless technologies. Even though its advanced features are rudimentary by today's standards, back in 2007, it presented a compelling package for users looking forward to a little more than just making calls and sending texts. It's a testament to the technological innovations that have shaped current smartphone designs.