Ericsson R380
Encyclopedia
The Ericsson R380 Smartphone was a GSM mobile phone
made by Ericsson
, released in 2000. It combined the functions of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant
(PDA). It was the first device marketed as a 'smartphone'. In December 1999 the magazine Popular Science
appointed the Ericsson R380 Smartphone to one of the most important advances in science and technology. It was a groundbreaking device since it was as small and light as a normal mobile phone. It was the first device to use the new Symbian OS.
The display was a black and white touchscreen, partially covered by a flip. For that reason it can be considered the clear forerunner of the popular P800
/P900
series of smartphones. It predates the UIQ
user interface which runs on those later phones, but again, the heritage is clear.
Despite the sophisticated user interface, users could not install their own software on the device.
The phone and the software was developed at Ericsson's lab in Kista
, Sweden. The UI was developed at Ericsson's Software Applications Laboratory in Warrington, UK. The UI was built using an in-house developed library called the Ericsson Control Kit (ECK).
The device was delivered in three variants. The most common being the R380s (Dual 900/1800 GSM bands) and the (rarer) R380 World (Dual 900/1900 GSM Bands). The final variant with minor software and cosmetic upgrades was designated the R380e.
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
made by Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
, released in 2000. It combined the functions of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
(PDA). It was the first device marketed as a 'smartphone'. In December 1999 the magazine Popular Science
Popular Science
Popular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
appointed the Ericsson R380 Smartphone to one of the most important advances in science and technology. It was a groundbreaking device since it was as small and light as a normal mobile phone. It was the first device to use the new Symbian OS.
The display was a black and white touchscreen, partially covered by a flip. For that reason it can be considered the clear forerunner of the popular P800
Sony Ericsson P800
The Sony Ericsson P800 is a smartphone introduced in 2002 based upon UIQ version 2.0 from Sony Ericsson...
/P900
Sony Ericsson P900
The Sony Ericsson P900 is a Symbian OS v7.0 based smartphone from Sony Ericsson.It was introduced in 2003 and is the successor of the Sony Ericsson P800, and, like the P800 uses the UIQ platform....
series of smartphones. It predates the UIQ
UIQ
UIQ by UIQ Technology is a software platform based upon Symbian OS. Essentially this is a graphical user interface layer that provides additional components to the core OS, to enable the development of feature-rich mobile phones that are open to expanded capabilities through third-party...
user interface which runs on those later phones, but again, the heritage is clear.
Despite the sophisticated user interface, users could not install their own software on the device.
The phone and the software was developed at Ericsson's lab in Kista
Kista
Kista is a district of Stockholm Municipality in Sweden. Located northwest of central Stockholm, Kista is divided by the Stockholm Metro blue line into a western part which is primarily a working class and middle class residential area, and an eastern part occupied by commercial ventures, mostly...
, Sweden. The UI was developed at Ericsson's Software Applications Laboratory in Warrington, UK. The UI was built using an in-house developed library called the Ericsson Control Kit (ECK).
The device was delivered in three variants. The most common being the R380s (Dual 900/1800 GSM bands) and the (rarer) R380 World (Dual 900/1900 GSM Bands). The final variant with minor software and cosmetic upgrades was designated the R380e.