Features
Here's a short presentation of many of the features of the Ericsson T39. In some cases there are also links to Wikipedia for further reading. Focus is on features that stood out from the rest. Standard features such as phone book, ringtones, SMS, alarm, timer, calculator, games and so forth are not listed here.
GPRS
General packet radio service, GPRS, is a mobile phone data communication service allowing data to be transfered at a rate of 40 kbit/s (10 kbit/s upload) in the case of the T39. GPRS basically provided T39 users with a decent internet connection, either using the phone itself or a laptop, connected via cable or bluetooth. It also made it possible to stay connected to the internet without having to pay for the time on-line, but for the amount of data transfered. Read more at Wikipedia.
WAP
The Wireless Application Protocol, WAP, a "free, unlicensed protocol for wireless communications that makes it possible to create advanced telecommunications services and to access Internet pages from a mobile telephone". (Quote from the ericsson.com website of june 2001 thanks to archive.org) Read more at Wikipedia. On the T39, WAP browsing can also be made secure thanks to SSL encryption capability.
Bluetooth
The Bluetooth technology, developed by Ericsson employees, allows high speed short range radio communication. Bluetooth radio uses a fast acknowledgement and frequency hopping scheme to make the link robust, even in noisy radio environments. Bluetooth worked like a charm and was soon to be seen in all kinds of hardware, such as headsets, printers, laptops, desktop computers, fax machines, keyboards etcetera. Read more at Wikipedia.
E-mail client
A number of mobile phones from arond 2000 claimed to have E-mail capabilities. But in most cases, the so called E-mail was sent as SMS messages to the operator's gateway and converted into e-mail there. The Ericsson T39 however featured a true e-mail client. Protocols used to get and send messages are standard protocols POP3 and SMTP. Messages composed are limited to a few hundred characters though, which is a sad thing. But, still amazing back in 2001.
Calendar
The calendar in the T39m was really great compared to what had been seen previously in mobile phones. The Ericsson T39 calendar shows days, weeks and months with meetings and other reminders, reminds you of upcoming events and enables synchronize with another phone or computer using Bluetooth or the Infrared port. The calendar in the T39 was actually very useful, which could not be said about most other mobile phones' calendars.
Voice control and Voice memo
Very useful as a security enhancing thing while driving, but also making it possible to dial numbers using only the bluetooth connected head-set without picking up the phone, was the powerful voice control feature of the T39. If the name of a contact in the phone book was recorded, it could later be recognized by the phone. Hold one key for a second, speak out the name of the contact and which one of his/her numbers (home, mobile or work) to be dialled, and the T39 makes the call for you. Related to this feature is a simple voice memo function, without any of the fancy voice control capabilities.
Infrared port
The Ericsson T39m really was an outstanding communication device. In addition to being a 3-band GSM phone with GPRS, Bluetooth, WAP and E-mail, it also had an infrared port for short range IR communication. Most of the communication that the Bluetooth could be used to perform could also be handled by the IR port. As time went by, and the more powerful Bluetooth technology (higher speed, longer range, not necessarily with free sight between communicating devices) became available in more and more models, there was not much reason to use the IR port anymore.
Pictures and Background picture
Some people did look at the Ericsson as a boring phone, only available in three not very exciting colors, but it was actually possible to personalize it in many ways. Personal ringtones could be composed and pictures could be drawn using the buil-in drawing software and used as personal background pictures! Pictures could also be transferred between a PC and the phone, and the Ericsson website hosted pictured that could be uploaded from the PC, and downloaded to the phone using WAP. I used it, and it rocked :-)
