Samsung SPH-i300
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, consumer electronics |
The Samsung SPH-i300 is a smartphone operating on the Palm OS platform, created by Samsung Electronics and introduced to the US market in October 2001 through Sprint's CDMA network. It holds the distinction of being the first "PDA phone" available in the United States equipped with a color screen, merging PDA capabilities with mobile phone functionality within a single unit.
Featuring a candybar design, the SPH-i300 functions similarly to a conventional Palm OS device but includes extra hardware and software buttons dedicated to its built-in phone features. The device package comprised a charging dock with a DE-9 serial connector, an additional battery, and a protective carrying case.
Applications
The device came preloaded with essential Palm handheld applications such as Graffiti, Memo Pad, Date Book, Scheduler, Calculator, To Do List, Alarm/Clock, Address Book, Expense Manager, and Palm Desktop Software. It also supported communication-focused applications including Blazer, Mail, Messages, Phone, Speed Dial, Voice Dial, and Voice Memo. Additionally, ZIO PalmGolf was offered as an available application.
History and reception
As Samsung's inaugural Palm OS smartphone, the SPH-i300 was priced at $499. It did not support Sprint's CDMA 1x network (often marketed as 3G but technically 2.5G), which restricted data transfer rates to 14.4 kbit/s and led to slower web browsing experiences. Nonetheless, its capability to access the full internet in 2001 represented an advancement compared to the typical WAP browsers found on other mobile phones at that time. The device competed directly with the Kyocera 6035, recognized as the first Palm OS cellular phone.
Follow-up SPH-i330 model
In 2003, Samsung introduced the SPH-i330 on Sprint's network. This successor featured a more curved exterior design and enhanced PC connectivity through USB rather than a serial port but maintained the same display, Palm OS version, and core functionalities as its predecessor, the SPH-i300.
Footnotes
- Specifications are drawn from CNET reviews and specification documents unless otherwise specified.