GenPhone (2010)
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genPhone Home vendor image. | |
| Creator | Nelson Jenkins |
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| Launch year | 2010 |
| Company | Gentek Technologies |
| Availability | Marketplace & In-World |
| User Manual | |
The GenPhone (originally genPhone) was the successor to the smartPhone. The flagship product, genPhone Home, was created in 2010.
genPhone Home
The genPhone Home began at Version 2 to prevent confusion with the smartPhone. Originally, it was the same build as the smartPhone, but with updated scripts to support the far more reliable HTTP communication protocol. It was updated later with a new look, more themes, and more ringtones. The sculpted handset was created by Will Szymborska. The original handset can still be seen on unscripted NTBI phone props.
Version 2 brought a new naming scheme in preparation for the genPhone Mobile. The main phone was renamed the genPhone Home. However, the genPhone Home was sold as a separate product from the smartPhone, so users were forced to re-purchase (although they were given a discount). The smartPhone was discontinued soon after, and its service was shut down.
genPhone PBX
The genPhone PBX was a shaky attempt at touch-tone directory listings and line splitting. Its scripting was easily breakable, and misconfigured PBX units had a tendency to corrupt the database. However, several in-world companies set up dedicated phone lines, and used the PBX to direct calls. The most notable setup was in Gentek Interregional Tower in Lionheart, where the nearby Gentek Telecom building housed a chain of PBX units to direct callers to the correct department, as well as splitting lines among multiple phones.
genPhone Mobile
The genPhone Mobile was a series of dropped prototypes that allowed users to use the genPhone network on the go. While design concepts were prototyped and dropped due to complication or poor planning, the underlying network was not set up to properly handle mobile users, so the genPhone Mobile was repeatedly delayed. It is perhaps one of the most-delayed products in Gentek's history, if considered along with the smartPhone Mobile.
GenPhone Version 3
The prototype Version 3 outlined a somewhat more streamlined communication method which was more reliable compared to the failing genPhone v2 due to new, undocumented HTTP restrictions. However, it still used the old database system, which was extremely inefficient and caused problems with the server it was hosted on, where requests would occasionally hang and get stuck in an infinite loop, eventually overloading the server. It is currently awaiting an updated database system, although a more active web interface is being considered to handle line splitting & conference calling off-world to avoid the HTTP restrictions.
Another notable change is that the flagship product for Version 3 will be the GenPhone Mobile. Although it is not currently the top priority, it is considered a major update (or, in this case, technically a release). It will support a variety installable applications, a directly-modifiable display driver, and a more user-friendly registration interface. A prototype design is on display in the store. It will most likely not be mesh.
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