Motorola StarTAC
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| Motorola StarTAC | |
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| Screen | Digital: LCD AMPS: Segment LED, Alphanumeric LED |
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| Networks | AMPS, CDMA, TDMA, GSM |
| Physical size | 94 mm×55 mm×19 mm (130) |
| Weight | 94 g |
The Motorola StarTAC was a clamshell mobile phone manufactured by Motorola. It was released on January 3, 1996 and is noted for being the first clamshell mobile phone[1]. The StarTAC is the successor of the MicroTAC, a semi-clamshell design that had been launched in 1989[2]. Whereas the MicroTAC's shell folded down from below the keypad, the StarTAC folded up from above the LED / LCD display screen. The hinge was extremely fragile and electrical interconnects inside it often broke, rendering the telephone useless. Despite this, in 2005, PC World put StarTAC at #6 in The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years[1].
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[edit] Release
StarTAC was unveiled in North America on January 3, 1996.[3] Then the smallest cell phone available, this AMPS phone was an immediate success. Successor TDMA and CDMA StarTACs were equally popular. GSM models were available in North America through Powertel, VoiceStream and other early GSM carriers. StarTACs remained popular until the early 2000s, appearing in many Hollywood movies of the period such as 8mm starring Nicolas Cage. Many MicroTAC owners switched to this particular model due to its compact size and light weight.
During its initial launch, magazine ads for the phone would include a cardboard rendition in real-size that could be pulled from the page to demonstrate the diminutive nature of the device.
[edit] Europe
The phone was released in Europe as a single band 900MHz GSM telephone in 1997. Despite the advanced technology, it never became a great success in Europe.[citation needed] While the StarTAC was not a great success, its direct successors (the early Motorola V series) were very popular in Europe until about 2003.[citation needed]
[edit] Key Features
Some key features of the Motorola StarTAC were:
- SMS text messages, although only the later models had the capability to send messages.
- Introduced clamshell design
- 88 grams[4] (3.1 ounces[3])
- It could use an optional Li-ion battery, at a time when most phones were restricted to short-duration NiMH batteries
- It had a vibrating ring, "VibraCall", the first vibrating alert feature on a phone. It was then only used by Motorola, as they held the patent[1].
[edit] StarTAC 2004
The StarTAC name was revived in 2004 for a new model designed for the South Korean market. It had:
- A 128×160 262,000 TFT Color LCD
- 64-channel sound
- A Mobile Banking feature supported by SK Telecom
- A 2,800-entry contact book
In addition, a version with an 18k gold directional keypad, and brightwork was released as StarTAC 2004 SE.
[edit] Model List
Analog Phones
- StarTAC 3000
- StarTAC 6000
- StarTAC 6500
- StarTAC 8500
- StarTAC 8600
Digital Phones
- StarTAC 70
- StarTAC 80
- StarTAC 130
- StarTAC 7000g - GSM 1900
- StarTAC 8000g - GSM 1900
- ST7760
- ST7762
- ST7790
- ST7797
- ST7860
- ST7868
- ST7890
- StarTAC 2004
- StarTAC III
[edit] Clamshell Phones Today
Motorola continued to develop clamshell mobile phones. As of 2004, the latest use of the design by Motorola can be seen in the RAZR, RAZR2, KRZR, and the PEBL.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b c Tynan, Dan. "The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years", PC World, 2005-12-24, p. 2. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
- ^ Mobile Phone News; PBI Media, LLC; Gale Group (1992-02-10). "Motorola introduces ultra lite 5.9 ounce cellular telephone - MicroTac Ultra Lite Telephone". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
- ^ a b "The smallest cell phone", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1996-01-04. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
- ^ Motorola StarTAC Cellular Phone. Integrated Electronics Engineering Center (1996-08). Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
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