Thursday, January 10, 2013

My decade of mobile phones

2012 marked for me ten years of usage of mobile phones. It's a good opportunity to have a list of devices I used over the years as a reminder of the evolution of these devices that have become such a big part of our daily lives.
Nokia 3310
Nokia 3310
Nokia 3310
This was my first cell phone. I purchased it in 2002 in Montreal, with a 2-year contract with Fido (before the company was acquired by Rogers). The phone was released by Nokia late 2000. Here are the specifications of the 3310:
  • Dimensions: 113x48x22 mm  (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 133g
  • Screen: 84x84 pixels pure monocrhome
  • Networks support: GSM, TDMA
Motorola V551
Motorola V551
Motorola V551
My second cell phone was a gift I received end of 2004, it was a V551 flip phone by Motorola. I loved the flip cover! Here are the specs:
  • Dimensions: 87x44x23 mm  (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 121g
  • Screen: 176x220 TFT Color 65k
  • Camera: VGA 640x480 color 
  • Networks support: GSM quadband

BlackBerry 8700r
BlackBerry 8700r
My First BlackBerry!
In 2007, I moved to Toronto for a new job where I received my first BlackBerry device at work, the 8700r (aka Electron) on Rogers network. This was the first time I was able to access my emails on the go, and it was a great feeling of not having to be connected to a PC to check my messages, at least my work emails. It also introduced a major change in my behavior, creating a "need" to be connected, even on the go, something I've been trying (with relative success) to keep under control.
  • Dimensions: 87x44x23 mm  (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 134g
  • Screen: 320x240 Color (2.6 inches)
  • Camera: VGA 640x480 color
  • Networks support: GSM, EDGE, CDMA

BlackBerry Curve 8300
BlackBerry Curve 8300
BlackBerry Curve 8300
This was by far the device I've kept the longest. Another phone provided by my company in 2008, and I used it until 2011 for work. BlackBerry OS was still decent at the time, but I started to feel embarrassed when I was with friends and family members using an iPhone 3G! Still, it did what it was supposed to do: phone + emails. The other reason I kept it was because iPhone devices were not approved by my company IT department and I didn't want to carry two devices. Here are the specs (from GSMArena.com):
  • Dimensions: 107x60x15.5 mm  (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 111g
  • Screen: 320x240 Color (2.5 inches)
  • Camera: 2MP (still and video)
  • Networks support: GSM, EDGE, CDMA

BlackBerry Torch 9800
BlackBerry Torch 9800
BlackBerry Torch 9800
Early 2011, I decided to no longer carry my work phone after hours; that's when I chose to buy my first personal smartphone. I was divided between switching to iPhone or stay with BlackBerry, especially that I wanted a touch screen and I started to feel frustrated with lack of apps on BlackBerry and awful slow software and browser on the phone. The main reasons to stick with BlackBerry at the time were: BlackBerry Messenger that I was using with friends and family around the World, iPhone 4 "antennagate" but most important for me at the time, a physical keyboard. Torch 9800 was a good improvement integrating a good touchscreen technology and decent browser. But that's the issue, everything was decent, but not great, and yet, the prices were not much cheaper than an iPhone.

This marked a consumer mistake I made of signing a 3 years contract with TELUS, which I regretted later when better plans were on the market. Never again contracts for a device. Here are the specs for Torch 9800:
  • Dimensions: 111x62x14.6 mm  (HxWxD)
  • Weight: 161g
  • Screen: 360x480 Color (3.2 inches)
  • Camera: 5MP  still, VGA @24fps video
  • Networks support: 3G, EDGE, GSM, CDMA


BlackBerry Torch 9810
BlackBerry Torch 9810
BlackBerry Torch 9810
This was my third work phone. I received it in 2011. Minor upgrade from 9800, adding HSPA+ to the device. When BlackBerry 6 was out, only 9810 was able to handle WiFi Hotspot support. Specs can be found on GSMArena.

BlackBerry Bold 9790
BlackBerry Bold 9790

BlackBerry Bold 9790
This was my last BlackBerry! It was a personal device I purchased in June 2012 after I lost my Torch 9800 in a cab from the airport after a business trip to Europe. This phone (specs on GSMArena) was light, had a touchscreen, but multiple pocket calls, awful software, lack of apps just had it for me. I guess I stayed with BlackBerry for that long because the pride of RIM was a Canadian company. As a consumer, I regret it a bit, I'm so happy with my iPhone 5. Thanks Steve Jobs!

iPhone 5
iPhone 5

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