More than eight years ago in 2002, HTC launched its first O2 Wallaby smartphone (O2 XDA). The device was intended to work in networks of popular European mobile operator O2. Later, as the device was also made for other operators, it acquired a few more “nicknames”: T-Mobile MDA, Dopod 686, Siemens SX56 and Qtek 1010.
O2 Wallaby ran the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition operating system which was the most advanced one then. The first device from HTC used Intel StrongARM processor with a frequency of 206 MHz. RAM was only 32 MB. ROM was also of similar amount. In case of full battery discharging of O2 Wallaby users took a risk to lose all their data. For user data storage there was an opportunity to install MMC / SD memory card in the slot.
The smartphone was equipped with a 3.5 inch QVGA-screen with a resolution of 240 × 320 pixels, and a stylus for operation with it was quite originally hidden inside the antenna. O2 Wallaby was unable to transmit data in 3G-networks and through EDGE. It only had support for GPRS, which provided about 15 Kbps speed.
The device was connected to the computer through the USB 1.0 interface. There was no support for Bluetooth, that’s why infrared was used for short distance data transmission. O2 Wallaby was equipped with a battery with capacity of 1500 mAh.
At the time of release the price of the smartphone was 899 pounds, which by today’s standards, is almost equal to 1450 U.S. dollars.
