MagCom
Encyclopedia
MagCom was a Norwegian
manufacturer of cellular GSM handsets. The company, located in Oslo
, was founded in 1999. In its various phases, around 200 million NOK were invested in the company. Insight Capital Partners, Telenor Venture and Anders Wilhelmsen AS were the largest investors.
The company's single product was the triple band MagCom cellular phone, on sale from April 2001.
In the months before the phone became available for purchase, most of the major IT-related media were ecstatic about the new phone, extensively hyping it. Some publications even claiming it would revolutionize the industry.
When the phone finally became available for sale, it had already been delayed. Due to this, expectations had grown even higher, and much was expected in terms of functionality and technology. When the phone was launched, it had features that at the time were quite sophisticated:
In the initial software release, the browser supported HTML page, but not WAP. Later upgrades of the support did include support for WAP
pages.
One of the features promoted, was that the magnesium
material used for the casing, as well as the form factor, resulted in an exceptionally low specific absorption rate
(SAR) for the handset. The value of 0.043 W/kg was rather significantly lower than the legal limit at the time, 2.0 in Europe and 1.6 in the US.
In the initial software release, the browser supported HTML
pages, but not WAP. Later upgrades of the support did include support for WAP
pages.
Although several software updates were released, sales remained low, resulting in financial problems for the company. Even releasing information about an upcoming new and improved model failed to help the company secure additional financial support. The production was halted early in August 2001, and the company was bought by the Norwegian company Q-Free
in September 2001. The company was from then on named Q-Free MagCom, and continued as a separate entity for around a year, after which the production of phones ceased.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
manufacturer of cellular GSM handsets. The company, located in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, was founded in 1999. In its various phases, around 200 million NOK were invested in the company. Insight Capital Partners, Telenor Venture and Anders Wilhelmsen AS were the largest investors.
The company's single product was the triple band MagCom cellular phone, on sale from April 2001.
In the months before the phone became available for purchase, most of the major IT-related media were ecstatic about the new phone, extensively hyping it. Some publications even claiming it would revolutionize the industry.
When the phone finally became available for sale, it had already been delayed. Due to this, expectations had grown even higher, and much was expected in terms of functionality and technology. When the phone was launched, it had features that at the time were quite sophisticated:
- Large black and white LCD screen with 64000 pixels, giving room for 27 lines of text.
- User upgradable software
- Web browser with support HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
- Email (SMTP and POP3)
- Full calendar, appointment and address book, that could be synchronized with Microsoft OutlookMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available both as a separate application as well as a part of the Microsoft Office suite...
- Automatic clock adjustment over Network Time ProtocolNetwork Time ProtocolThe Network Time Protocol is a protocol and software implementation for synchronizing the clocks of computer systems over packet-switched, variable-latency data networks. Originally designed by David L...
(NTP)
In the initial software release, the browser supported HTML page, but not WAP. Later upgrades of the support did include support for WAP
Wireless Application Protocol
Wireless Application Protocol is a technical standard for accessing information over a mobile wireless network.A WAP browser is a web browser for mobile devices such as mobile phones that uses the protocol.Before the introduction of WAP, mobile service providers had limited opportunities to offer...
pages.
One of the features promoted, was that the magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
material used for the casing, as well as the form factor, resulted in an exceptionally low specific absorption rate
Specific absorption rate
Specific absorption rate is a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the body when exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field; although, it can also refer to absorption of other forms of energy by tissue, including ultrasound . It is defined as the power absorbed per mass of...
(SAR) for the handset. The value of 0.043 W/kg was rather significantly lower than the legal limit at the time, 2.0 in Europe and 1.6 in the US.
In the initial software release, the browser supported HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
pages, but not WAP. Later upgrades of the support did include support for WAP
Wireless Application Protocol
Wireless Application Protocol is a technical standard for accessing information over a mobile wireless network.A WAP browser is a web browser for mobile devices such as mobile phones that uses the protocol.Before the introduction of WAP, mobile service providers had limited opportunities to offer...
pages.
Although several software updates were released, sales remained low, resulting in financial problems for the company. Even releasing information about an upcoming new and improved model failed to help the company secure additional financial support. The production was halted early in August 2001, and the company was bought by the Norwegian company Q-Free
Q-Free
Q-Free ASA is an electronic toll collection technology development company based in Trondheim, Norway. The company delivers systems for toll collection and automated ticketing globally and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.-History:...
in September 2001. The company was from then on named Q-Free MagCom, and continued as a separate entity for around a year, after which the production of phones ceased.