Samsung SPH-N270 Facts

• Official Name: Samsung SPH-N270, also known as the "Matrix Phone".
• Release Year: 2002
• Purpose: Created specifically as a promotional tie-in with the movie The Matrix Reloaded.
• Design: Bar-style phone designed to resemble the phone used in the movie. The design team from The Matrix collaborated with Samsung on its development.
• Unique Feature: Spring-loaded earpiece that snaps up to reveal the screen. It could be configured to answer calls when snapped open.⁷ A small portion of the screen remained visible when closed to show status information.
• Limited Edition: Only around 10,000 units were produced, each with a unique serial number.
• Target Audience: Marketed exclusively to fans of The Matrix series as a collector's item rather than an everyday mainstream phone.
• Operating System: Qualcomm REX with Samsung's custom user interface.
• Display: 128 x 160 pixel, 65,000-color TFT screen.
• Battery: 1000mAh lithium-ion battery with a backplate matching the Matrix phone design.
• Connectivity: Featured assisted GPS. It had ports for a wall charger/car adapter, USB cable, and a headset. It did not support Bluetooth or IrDA.
• Multimedia: Lacked video and MP3 capabilities. It was not web-capable and had no web browser or text messaging functionality in the firmware. It also did not have a camera, despite Samsung's reputation for camera phones.
• Matrix Integration:
  • The default theme featured the iconic green code on a black background ("digital rain") in many menus.
  • The keypad buttons had stylized green digits.
  • The manual, box, and collector's tin also featured the "Matrix code".
  • Three screensaver themes were included: Reloaded, The Animatrix, and Camera (despite the phone not having a camera).
  • Several ringtones from the first two Matrix films were pre-loaded.
  • The power-on message was "WELCOME" and the power-off message was "GOOD BYE," reminiscent of Neo's first encounter with the Matrix.
• Voice Features: Emphasis on voice integration, including voice dialing for up to 300 stored contacts and the ability to speak digits for contacts not in the phone book. It also had an option to match text to the user's speech to improve voice recognition.
• Other Features: Included multiple alarms, a calendar, a to-do list, and a simple calculator.
• Availability: Sold exclusively through a special section of Samsung's website, which was run on Flash and has since been taken down as all units were sold.
• Carrier: Ran on CDMA 800/1900 and AMPS 800 networks, operated by Sprint PCS.

Samsung SPH-N270 Pop Culture References

• Direct Tie-in to The Matrix Reloaded (2003): The phone was explicitly designed and released to coincide with the second film in the Matrix trilogy.
• Resemblance to Movie Prop: While marketed as an exact replica, the actual prop used in The Matrix Reloaded was slightly different and likely non-functional. The SPH-N270 aimed to capture the aesthetic of that prop.
• Featured in Matrix Media: Accurate 3D models of the SPH-N270 were portrayed in Final Flight of the Osiris (an animated short film part of the Animatrix series) and the video game Enter the Matrix.
• Nokia Comparison: It's often compared to the Nokia 8110, which was featured in the first Matrix movie.²² However, the Nokia 8110 was an existing phone, whereas the SPH-N270 was created specifically for the Matrix Reloaded promotion.
• Cult Following: The phone has garnered a cult following among Matrix fans and collectors due to its unique design and limited availability.
• Mention in Pop Culture Lists: It frequently appears on lists of famous or iconic phones from pop culture.

Samsung SPH-N270 Trivia

• Collector's Item: Due to its limited production and association with a major film franchise, the Samsung SPH-N270 is now a sought-after collector's item. Online auction listings, though infrequent, can fetch prices ranging from a few hundred to even a few thousand dollars, especially for new or complete-in-box units.
• Marketing Strategy: Samsung worked closely with the design crew of The Matrix to ensure the phone's design and release aligned with the movie's aesthetic and timeline.
• Not Intended for Mass Use: Even in 2003, the phone's features were considered basic. Its primary purpose was to serve as a piece of high-quality merchandise for fans rather than a competitive smartphone.
• Unique Packaging: The phone came in special packaging that also featured Matrix-themed branding, enhancing its appeal as a collectible.
• Flash-Based Sales: The exclusive online sale of the phone through a Flash-based website was a sign of the internet technology of the time.
• Polarizing Design: According to some opinions, the phone's unique and somewhat bulky design was considered either very appealing or quite unattractive.
• Battery Design: The proprietary battery with the Matrix-themed backplate further emphasized the phone's status as a special edition item.
• Voice Command Limitations: While featuring voice commands, the technology at the time would have meant the accuracy and reliability of these features were likely limited compared to modern voice assistants.
• Lack of Common Features: The absence of features like web browsing and text messaging, which were becoming increasingly standard in 2003, highlights that the phone prioritized aesthetics and its connection to the movie over typical smartphone functionality.