Serene (phone)
| Company type | Joint venture product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile phones |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Europe |
| Products | Mobile phones |
Template:Infobox Mobile phone Serene is a mobile device created through a collaboration between Samsung Electronics and Bang & Olufsen. It was launched in Europe during the final quarter of 2005. The phone was distributed in limited retail locations worldwide and was priced at approximately $1275 (around €1000).
In October 2007, a follow-up model named the Serenata was introduced and made available. This version incorporated a slide-out speaker and placed significant emphasis on audio capabilities. The Serenata was marketed at a price point of $2000.
The joint venture
The alliance between Bang & Olufsen and Samsung was established to target the luxury segment of the mobile phone market, primarily aiming to rival several models produced by Nokia. This partnership combined Bang & Olufsen’s expertise in design with Samsung’s technological advancements in mobile devices, allowing Bang & Olufsen to re-enter the mobile phone arena after several years away, while enabling Samsung to broaden its presence in the premium handset category.
This is not Bang & Olufsen’s first collaboration with other manufacturers for mobile phones. For instance, the BeoCom 9800 was developed alongside Philips, and the BeoCom 9500 was created in cooperation with Ericsson.
Handset Objectives
In line with the signature style of Bang & Olufsen products, this phone embraces a minimalist industrial design. The device focuses solely on essential communication functions. While it supports voice calls, text messages, multimedia messaging, and photography, its camera is limited to a modest 0.3 megapixels. Notably absent are typical features found in many contemporary phones, such as games.
Handset Architecture
The handset is composed of two segments connected by an aluminium hinge. These hinges incorporate an internal motor that assists in fully opening the device. One section houses a circular keypad accompanied by an iPod-style scroll wheel, while the other contains a liquid crystal display. The design positions the screen on the lower half during regular use, with the keypad located on the flip-out portion. This arrangement serves dual purposes: preventing the screen from becoming smudged during calls and enhancing weight distribution when holding the phone. Additionally, the handset can be inverted to allow for alternative holding orientations.
Despite its innovative approach, the Serene exhibits significant ergonomic drawbacks. The camera is placed on the hinge's side, complicating photo capture. Furthermore, accessing the battery requires a specialized screwdriver.[1] [2]
Technical Details
| Form factor | Clamshell / Transformer |
| GSM bands | 900/1800/1900 MHz |
| GPRS support | Yes |
| Display | TFT, 256K colors, 320x240 pixels |
| Camera resolution | 0.3 Megapixels |
| Multimedia Messaging Service | Yes |
| Internal storage | 31 MB |
| Java support | No |
| Memory card slot | Absent |
| Bluetooth connectivity | Yes |
| Infrared feature | No |
| Data cable compatibility | Yes |
| Web browser version | 1.2.1 |
| Email functionality | Yes |
| Music playback | No |
| Radio tuner | No |
| Video playback | No |
| Polyphonic ringtones | Yes, 64 chords |
| MP3 ringtone support | Unknown |
| Battery type | Li-Ion 800 mAh |
| Maximum talk time | Up to 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Standby duration | Up to 225 hours |
| Weight | 115 grams |
| Dimensions | 64.7 x 69.7 x 23.9 millimeters |
| Release date | Q4/2005 |
References
- ↑ Edwards, Cliff (2007-01-22). "Making the Serene Scene With B&O". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ↑ "B&O Serenata review". Stuff. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
The first collaboration between Danish hi-fi gurus Bang & Olufsen and Samsung resulted in the Serene. It was a uniquely designed handset, but lacked features and was an ergonomic disaster. Far from being perturbed, the self-styled 'dream team' has returned with the Serenata