When Phones Were Fun: Samsung’s “Matrix Phone“ (2003)

It’s the dawn of a new century. China launches its first manned space mission; the human genome is finally sequenced; and in North America, over 50 million people lose power due in part to a software bug. In short: technology has woven its way into so many facets of our lives that movies like The Matrix are coming out to critique … and yes, consumerize that infestation. The year is 2003; the device is the Samsung SPH-n270 “Matrix Phone“; and this is episode 1 of When Phones Were Fun! Join Michael Fisher/MrMobile for a throwback retro review of one of the earliest and most elaborate product placements in the history of mobile tech: a mobile device that pulled double-duty as on-screen prop ... and cellphone you could actually buy! [SUBSCRIBE TO MRMOBILE] [ABOUT WHEN PHONES WERE FUN: SAMSUNG MATRIX PHONE REVIEW RE-DO] This is the first in a series of MrMobile episodes exploring the mobile tech world’s most vibrant period in design and experimentation. In “When Phones Were Fun,” Michael Fisher re-reviews cellphones from the golden age of the mobile phone, the decade-long span ranging from the turn of the century to approximately 2009. When Phones Were Fun: Episode 1 features the Samsung SPH-n270, aka the “Samsung Matrix Phone.” The Matrix Phone featured in this video was purchased by MrMobile/Future plc via eBay. No company paid a fee or otherwise offered compensation in exchange for this coverage, nor did any company preview or approve this content before publication. [LINKS] Samsung Matrix Phone Details Released by FCC [PhoneScoop]: Matrix Phone Available [PhoneScoop]: Mobile Phone Museum: Companies Go Extra Mile to Place Brands in “The Matrix Reloaded” [WSJ]: Inside Samsung’s $100M Matrix Deal [AdAge]: A New Lease On Life For The Matrix Phone [Small Perturbation]: [SOCIALIZE] [DISCLOSURES] This post may contain affiliate links, which afford MrMobile / Future plc a commission if you make a purchase. See our affiliate link policy for more details: Additional information concerning MrMobile’s ethics policy can be found here: #matrixphone #thematrix #matrixreloaded #matrix #samsung #throwback #retro #tech