Ericsson GS88

Year: 1997
Prototype level: Cancelled
Codename: Penelope

Overview

The Ericsson GS88, codenamed Penelope, was developed in 1997 as an ambitious attempt to combine a conventional GSM phone with the functions of a personal organiser. The unusual two-sided design concealed a monochrome touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard behind the phone section, with a stylus used for operating the PDA side. The device used GEOS for its PDA functions and included features such as email, a browser, calendar, address book and PC connectivity. Ericsson went as far as preparing the GS88 for commercial production, including packaging that described it as a “Smart Phone”, but the project was ultimately cancelled. Approximately 200 units were produced, most of which were subsequently scrapped. Ericsson eventually moved its smartphone development towards the emerging Symbian platform, leading to the R380.

The unit in this collection was acquired without its battery, antenna shell and stylus. Since the battery and antenna shell are significant visual elements of the GS88, both were digitally modelled using only available images and then 3D printed. The attempt to recreate the stylus was unfortunately not successful, so the specimen remains without one. The reproduced battery also has a small opening on its rear that allows a cable to be connected directly to it, making it possible to use the battery as a dummy battery when powering the phone from an external power supply.