Cybiko
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Handheld game consoles, Personal digital assistants |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | David Yang |
| Headquarters | Moscow (development team), United States (marketing) , Russia, United States |
Area served | United States (initially), later other markets including planned UK launch |
Key people | David Yang (Founder) |
| Products | Cybiko Classic, Cybiko Xtreme, MP3 player accessories, 1MB Expansion Memory |
Number of employees | 40 (development team in early 1999) (1999) |
The Cybiko series represents a collection of personal digital assistant devices and handheld game consoles introduced by Cybiko Inc. in the year 2000. Established by David Yang, the company initially test marketed the product in New York during April 2000 before rolling it out across the United States by May. Aimed primarily at teenagers, the Cybiko featured an innovative two-way radio communication system that allowed users to engage in wireless chatrooms within a limited radius.
Equipped with a flexible QWERTY keyboard made of rubber, the device supported a library exceeding 430 official freeware games and applications. Additionally, an MP3 player accessory with a SmartMedia card slot was offered. By the conclusion of 2000, sales of the original Cybiko Classic surpassed 500,000 units. After releasing two main product iterations over several years, the company discontinued production.
History
Development of Cybiko commenced in 1998 under the leadership of Russian entrepreneur David Yang, who also founded ABBYY Software House. The idea for the device stemmed from social studies conducted across six nations that highlighted young people's desire for digital communication tools. The initial prototype was finalized by October 1998. By late 1999, three industrial prototypes had been produced, incorporating a patented radio protocol capable of networking up to 3,000 Cybiko units without additional infrastructure. The Moscow-based development team expanded to 40 members by early 1999. Designed as a handheld computing device for adolescents, Cybiko merged communication capabilities with entertainment options, featuring a QWERTY keyboard, monochrome screen, short-distance radio messaging, and downloadable software and games.
Production was outsourced to Inventec, a Taiwanese manufacturer, while marketing responsibilities were assigned to Poznik & Kolker, recognized for their work promoting Furby toys. Although initially scheduled for a September 1999 release, launch was postponed until early 2000 due to difficulties in casing production that consumed more than half of the initial $120,000 budget. Prior to the New York launch event, Yang met ICQ founder Yossi Vardi, who facilitated an introduction to AOL CEO Steve Case, leading to significant financial backing.
The Cybiko officially entered the U.S. market in 2000 after securing $20 million in investment. Its debut occurred in April at select New York retailers including FAO Schwarz and Virgin Megastore before expanding nationwide by mid-May. The device’s short-range messaging, file-sharing capabilities, and user discovery features rapidly attracted consumer interest and media coverage. Initially priced at $139, Cybiko generated $25 million in sales within the first three weeks of the holiday season and achieved roughly 250,000 units sold during its inaugural year.
In 2001, an enhanced version called Cybiko Xtreme was launched featuring upgraded design elements and technical specifications. Nevertheless, rising competition from more affordable internet-enabled mobile phones intensified market pressures. The dot-com bubble burst further strained company finances and impeded additional funding opportunities. Plans for a London launch on September 15, 2001 were canceled following the September 11 attacks, dealing another financial setback.
A corporate restructuring late in 2001 divided operations into Cybiko Advance Technologies (managing wireless network infrastructure) and CWAG (handling game development and intellectual property). CWAG collaborated with Motorola, Sprint, and Nokia to modify software for mobile phone platforms. By 2003, Cybiko Inc. ended production of its communicator devices.
Cybiko Classic
The Classic Cybiko was produced in two variants, primarily distinguished by their power control methods: the initial model features a side-mounted power switch, whereas the later revision utilizes the "escape" key for power management. Differences also exist internally concerning memory capacity and firmware placement.
Its processor is a Hitachi H8S/2241 running at 11.0592 MHz, complemented by an Atmel AT90S2313 co-processor operating at 4 MHz to handle RF communications. The system includes 512KB of flash ROM and 256KB of RAM. A rear expansion slot is present but is not electrically compatible with PC card standards.
The device was offered in five distinct colors: blue, purple, neon green, white, and black. Notably, the black edition comes with a yellow keypad instead of the standard white.
Cybiko Xtreme
The second-generation Cybiko Xtreme brought substantial improvements, featuring a faster Hitachi H8S/2323 CPU clocked at 18 MHz alongside the same Atmel AT90S2313 co-processor at 4 MHz for RF support. It contains 512KB of flash ROM and expands RAM to 1.5MB. This model introduced a redesigned operating system, an updated keyboard and casing, enhanced wireless range, an integrated microphone, superior audio output, and a more compact design.
Its rear expansion slot supports an MP3 player accessory. Two regional versions were released: one for the US operating within the 902-928 MHz frequency band and another for Europe covering 868-870 MHz; aside from frequency differences, both versions function identically.
MP3 player
- Classic MP3 Player: This accessory connects to the bottom of the Classic Cybiko and accepts SmartMedia cards up to 64 MB in size. It features built-in playback controls.
- Xtreme MP3 Player: Designed to attach to the back of the Cybiko Xtreme, it supports a single MMC for storage and is controlled entirely through the device interface. The MMC card can also store data and applications.
1MB Expansion Memory
This memory expansion module attaches to the rear slot and provides an additional 256 KB of static RAM along with 1 MB of data flash memory. It allows execution of larger software applications and increased data storage capacity. Some software titles require this expansion to operate properly.
Games
Cybiko featured an extensive library of downloadable games via CyberLoad, many incorporating multiplayer capabilities with automatic save functions. Several games were adaptations from titles by the Russian developer Gamos, including Color Lines (released as Funny Balls) and Snake Battle.
Early game selections emphasized traditional board games such as chess, checkers, and backgammon, along with casual puzzle games like Phat Cash and Tooty Fruity, which required holding the device horizontally. The first-person shooter Lost in Labyrinth utilized an engine similar to that of Wolfenstein 3D. The skateboarding title Blazing Boards employed a racing engine that was later adapted for use in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater mobile editions developed in collaboration with THQ. Strategy games included Warfare and Land of Kings, the latter necessitating additional memory card support.
The premier game, CyLandia, combined virtual pet care reminiscent of tamagotchi mechanics with economic strategy elements. Players nurtured creatures called Cy-B or "cypets," which continued developing even when devices were powered off and could be transferred between nearby Cybiko units.
Subsequent development efforts focused on quest-based and RPG-style games, although many projects remained incomplete or unreleased. The fighting game Knight's Tournament incorporated RPG features through customizable gear options. Following heightened sensitivities after September 11, American management imposed stricter censorship that resulted in shelving Renegade, a beat-'em-up centered on a police officer battling hooligans due to content concerns.
Comparison
| Model | Cybiko (Classic) | Cybiko Xtreme |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 122 g (4.3 oz) | |
| Size (L × W × H) | 71 × 22 × 145 mm (2.80 × 0.87 × 5.71 in) | |
| Available Colors | Blue, Purple, Neon Green, White, Black | Silver |
| Screen | LCD featuring 4-bit grayscale, 59 × 40 mm (2.3 × 1.6 in) | |
| Screen Resolution | 160 × 100 pixels | |
| Main Processor | Hitachi H8S/2241 running at 11.06 MHz | Hitachi H8S/2323 running at 18 MHz |
| Secondary Processor | Atmel AT90S2313 operating at 4 MHz | |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 kB | 1536 kB |
| Flash Memory (ROM) | 512 kB | |
| Wired Connectivity | Serial (RS-232, proprietary cable) | Mini USB |
| Wireless Frequency Range | 868–870 MHz (Europe) 902–928 MHz (USA) | |