Apr 17 2007

10 Coolest Concept Phones Out There

Posted by: Vlad Balan in Special




Ever wondered how the phone of the future will look like? We surely did. Phone producers show us every year some really superb concept phones and even if 99% of those phones never see the production line they give us a small glimpse of what the phones will look like in a not so distant future. We've made a list of what we think are the coolest concept phones presented in the last year. This is not a top, so the order is random. Oh, and one more thing, remember, these are concept phones, which means they are not in production and are not for sale, so please don't ask us where can you can get and what's the price. So, here it goes:

1. Nokia 888 Communicator


Nokia 888 Communicator Concept Phone


Nokia definitely has the most interesting concept phones. Nokia 888 Communicator is a striking futuristic concept phone. The phone, which uses liquid batteries, speech recognition, flexible touchscreen and touch-sensitive body cover,is designed by Tamer Nakisci and won the Nokia Design Award. We also have a video presentation made by Nokia.

Nokia 888 Communicator Concept PhoneNokia 888 Communicator Concept PhoneNokia 888 Communicator Concept Phone
Click to view larger images




2. Nokia Aeon

Nokia Aeon Concept Phone


Nokia Aeon was presented by Nokia on their website in the Research & Development section. What is so great about this phone is that it looks like it will actually go into production next February. Of course, its just a rumor, but still, makes us hope to actually see it someday in the GSM shop. All we know about it for now is that its a touchscreen phone and it looks fantastic.


Nokia Aeon Concept PhoneNokia Aeon Concept PhoneNokia Aeon Concept Phone

Click on thumbs to view larger images




3. SKY "Sleek & Slim"

Sky


"Sleek & Slim" from SKY is another concept based on touchscreen technology. The phone has a discretely glowing touchpad, hideaway keys and generally utterly-fashionable minimalist design.

SKY Sleek & Slim Concept PhoneSKY Sleek & Slim Concept Phone


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4. Benq-Siemens Snaked

Benq Siemens Snaked Concept Phone


Benq designers thought of women too and presented Snaked. This is a "reptile" looking phone, creepy somehow, but still is very cool. The Snaked is a fashion phone for sport loving women, because it also has body monitoring sensors to help the ladies keep those fine shapes.

Benq Siemens SnakedBenq Siemens Snaked


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5. "What You See Is What You Get" Concept

What You See Is What You Get Concept Phone


One thing is for sure about this concept phone...they could've named it shorter. Designed by Pei-Hua Hang, the phone's name comes from the fact that this concept no longer uses an LCD as viewfinder for the digital camera, instead it uses a transparent frame. And of course, interaction is made through a touchscreen.

What You See Is What You GetWhat You See Is What You Get


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6. Retroxis by Dark Label

Dark Label Retroxis Concept Phone


If most phones presented here will never be sold in store for sure, the Retroxis concept phone from Dark Label looks kinda human, and makes us hope we'll be able to get one of these one day. Designed by Lim Sze Tat the phone is encased in high polished polycarbonate renowned for its lightweight and toughness and has an invisible OLED display that silently hides away when inactive.



7. Benq-Siemens Black Box

Benq Siemens Black Box


Black Box designed by Benq-Siemens uses a touch screen as its keypad and, depending on the functions you are using, the touch screen changes the control layout immediately.

Benq Siemens Black BoxBenq Siemens Black Box


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8. NEC Tag

NEC Tag Concept Phone


Somehow similar to the Snaked concept, the NEC Tag is a flexible phone concept that can be , for example, hung from a belt or wrapped around the user’s arm. Interesting is that the phone has shape-memorizing material and sensors that allows the phone to change its shape according to the mode.

NEC Tag Concept PhoneNEC Tag Concept PhoneNEC Tag Concept Phone


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9. TripleWatch

TripleWatch Concept Phone


Though the idea of a cellphone watch is not so new, the TripleWatch designed by Manon Maneenawa has an interesting triple flip technique that allows the user to transform the watch into a normal cellphone. When used as a wrist watch, the phone has a speaker button that allows the user to answer the phone and hang up while driving.

TripleWatch Concept PhoneTripleWatch Concept PhoneTripleWatch Concept Phone


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10. Asus Aura

Asus Aura Concept Phone



Asus Aura Concept PhoneAsus Aura Concept PhoneAsus Aura Concept Phone


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57 Comment(s) on “10 Coolest Concept Phones Out There”

  • Bruce Doxey said on Apr 18 07 at 8:14 pm:

    I think I am not alone in wanting a featureless phone. A phone without a lot of graphic tricks, no camera and no color display and "no on the icons" please. A flat black screen with white graphics or the reverse of that, which ever
    is best viewed in the sun. A phone that will record messages. A phone that will allow me to make and to recieve calls and accomadate a bluetooth earpice.

    Feel free to contact me if you ever come up with such a device.

    Bdox

  • Kit said on Apr 18 07 at 8:32 pm:

    Second the motion, Bruce- I want a *phone* that acts reliably as a *phone* and has no clutter.
    Sleek, Zen, Functional.

  • Vlad Balan said on Apr 18 07 at 8:44 pm:

    You guys definitely are not alone. Not for me though, I like plenty of features on my cellphone. However, as you can see, most of these phones have minimalistic design and things tend to go to a simple phone, both in shape and features. Don't know if it's good or bad, but its the truth.

  • Marla said on Apr 18 07 at 8:48 pm:

    I utterly agree. I remember shopping for a phone last year, and they didn't have a single model in stock without some silly, bad quality camera tacked on to it. Sigh.

  • Sean said on Apr 18 07 at 8:50 pm:

    Wow, those bendy phones are crazy!

    To tell you the truth though I don't see the point, sure it's cool and all by why not have phone just, ya know....be a phone?

  • Tisiphone said on Apr 18 07 at 9:53 pm:

    Some neat designs. I understand that some people want a simple phone for a cell phone, and I can understand and respect that. However, I would propose that perhaps as alternative, designers could attempt to make the advanced features on future cell phones more ergonomic and intuitive. I think quite a bit of the frustration that people have with phones is not the features or related costs (digital cameras are cheap, as is solid-state memory) but with the complex menus and key systems which they have to become accustomed to. (I.e.: text message pops up during a call, rendering keys non-functional, or user gets caught in camera mode without knowing it.) As time progresses, cell phones seem to be headed more and more towards becoming an all-inclusive personal digital assistant. One can easily speculate that soon, cell phones will replace all MP3 players, home video cameras, GPS navigation devices, and pocket computers. This is certainly a money, space, and resource saving idea -if- the manufacturers can make these features simple enough to access and use that people like Bruce don't end up frustrated with the avaliable product lines. And most importantly, the cell phones of the future need to be able to act as basic PHONES when needed, with minimal effort on the part of the user.

  • Vlad Balan said on Apr 18 07 at 10:08 pm:

    Good point there Tisiphone, its true...even if, as I said, I like lots of features on my phone, I have to admit, there are some producers out there that seem to forget the basic purpose of such a device, that of being a PHONE.

  • duncan said on Apr 18 07 at 10:48 pm:

    I think before they get around to creating these amazing touch screen designer phones that do all sorts of jiggery-pokery, it would probably be a good idea to perfect anti-scratch technology.

    The change in my pocket will play havoc with the lovely Aeon.

  • Vlad Balan said on Apr 18 07 at 11:09 pm:

    :)) ur right duncan...because so far Nokia 8800 have anti-scratch material, but those don't come so cheap

  • Poohmanhcu said on Apr 18 07 at 11:10 pm:

    I can't understand these companies. We have a huge population of aging people who are mystified, for the most part, if not terrified, by newfangled gadgets, and not one company is catering to them. Most Baby Boomers would like, as some of the above people have already said, a phone that is just a phone. No camera, no MP3, just a phone. With big numbers and a clear screen so they can see what number they are calling, and who is calling them. Why can't these companies get it? How out of touch with reality can they possibly be The answer is on this page...

  • Bob Frost said on Apr 18 07 at 11:42 pm:

    I happen to like the flashy phones better then plain jane phones. However, "durability" on any product is something that you can't have usually. Things that don't break, don't need fixing. Things that don't need fixing people don't buy anymore. That doesn't exactly boost the economy or the fat cats wallets, does it? So, when you find one that is flashy and highly durable (like military grade) then let me know.

    PS. Why do all cell phone voice mail services always inform the person calling how to leave a message? The instructions on how to leave a message are often longer then the personal message you heard from the person you were calling. (eg. "To send a numeric page press 1 now. To send a voice mail, press the star key or wait for the tone...after the tone please record your voice message, when you are finished recording, you can hang up or press one for more options.........beep".
    I don't know of one person who doesn't know how to use an answering machine/voice mail. This really is a waste of my time and to me is obviously invented to lengthen the amount of time I have to be on the phone.

  • Rebecca said on Apr 19 07 at 12:15 am:

    Poohmanchu, there is at least one complany catering to our aging population-JitterBug.
    I don't remember what magazine I saw the add in, maybe US News? But, the phones are simply portable phones, they've have simple menus and large backlit buttons.

  • Bruce Doxey said on Apr 19 07 at 1:49 am:

    Yes, I object to all the menus and icons that have to be learned. Fewer functions equal more space for text vs. icons.

    I am an old guy whose eyes are not as great as they used to be, but I do embrace new technology. But having been involved in creating new products, what I have learned is that cramming new technology into a product is not as good an approach as using the optimum level of technology to achieve the performance needed for the product's function.

    Every new phone I get has different icons which I never learn the meaning of because I don't care about all the superfluous functions.

    Also I do a lot of my work outdoors, so a display that I can't see in the sun is a great irritation.

  • Manuel Pellerano said on Apr 19 07 at 2:00 am:

    Great concept hope to see 'em out there soon!!!

  • modoc said on Apr 19 07 at 2:26 am:

    i believe there is a phone that has a key pad and the ability to make and receive calls and of course a phone book but nothing else no bluetooth i think its called firefly

  • DanieQ said on Apr 19 07 at 11:37 am:

    so cool..are they sold in China..sniff..

    i wanna all of them..

  • Nathaniel Laiet said on Apr 20 07 at 4:52 am:

    Agree with most of the above comments.

    Somebody please make a Zen Phone. A phone that does only what it's supposed to do without dying and without a huge learning curve.

  • Bob said on Apr 29 07 at 3:22 am:

    I don't agree with the "simple cell phone". You can go to nextel or sprint and get a motorola that has limited features. Such as no camera and black display. They are the simplest phones that are made. This is the year 2007 and I am guessing that the people who posted about the simpler phones are older than 30. Technology is going to be increasing until we all die. Things aren't going to get simpler, only more complicated. I would suggest buying a manual on the next phone you buy and get used to it.

  • Ryan Da Pimp said on May 09 07 at 4:21 pm:

    yo sup niggas, these fones r off the forshizze! Where can i go to get the 10th one right now, my hoe Shenana wants it and she aint putting out until she gets it. so mail me on how to get the fone aite.
    Lata Playa's!

  • Leyna said on May 16 07 at 1:22 am:

    An upside of the bendy concept phones - I don't have to worry about losing my phone because I can, for instance, put it around my wrist. Plus, most people use their cell phones as watches anyway.

    We're that much closer to not needing pockets or purses.

  • John said on May 17 07 at 3:40 pm:

    Yup.. I also want a simple phone. I have had arguments with my vendor when I try to get a new phone that's just a phone. "This one has a 27.3 gigapixel video camera with built in MP3, MP4, MPV, blu-ray and DVR. Plus you can change the face plate, LEDs and LCDs to different colors. It has a built in voice modulator that will allow you to sound like Dennis Miller. It will connect with your clock radio and you can charge it with your shower head." Um.. I just want one that makes and receives calls. Do you have one like that? I have an MP3 player for music, a DVD player for movies and a high quality camera for photos. While those do one function, they do them extremely well. Unlike a cell phone that usually takes crappy photos and you have to compress the MP3s so much, they would sound better on AM radio.

    Just give me a good phone, that has great sound quality and reception.

    Ah.. I remember when having a clock was a selling feature on cell phones.

  • matt said on May 23 07 at 6:44 am:

    bruce, and others that seek a featureless phone, try the jitterbug- it "has large buttons" and "they light up" designed for the older folks who are afraid of phones that do more that one thing. I'm with the group cheering these phones on!

  • cellphoneguider said on Jun 15 07 at 7:59 am:

    I like the first and the fourth concept,such phone is more convenient to carry,especially in summer.

  • chloe said on Sep 07 07 at 10:51 am:

    ace phones. want to no when they coming out and how much they will be

  • Ondrej Manisha said on Sep 19 07 at 8:50 pm:

    that's why it will never wor. Ondrej Manisha.

  • Horsa Amadeo said on Oct 21 07 at 9:39 pm:

    oh,when you took my arm, that's when we fell apar. Horsa Amadeo.

  • sham said on Jan 07 08 at 10:53 am:

    oh my god ...u guys are...gay !!

  • phonewizard79 said on Jan 12 08 at 11:07 pm:

    gleebin glibe gloiben !!! i hate people like you...abusing me and my friends over cyberspacce !! GOSH !!! you're all such freakin idiots hidin behind your computers !!! i freakin hate you !!! GOSH !!

  • sham said on Jan 12 08 at 11:18 pm:

    awwww ja tink ur great de ye ??? well UR NOT !!! il break ur face so i will !! put me brick foot thru ur house yea !! ye retard !! ill donabate ye nd den beat ye black n blue til ur black n blue !! YE HIPPIE !!!

  • f2 said on Jan 16 08 at 4:40 am:

    I want a simple phone too. I dont want to sync contacts or surf or listen to music. just a cool zen black shiny touch phone that has bluetooth.

  • sham says said on Jan 29 08 at 12:03 pm:

    u nd ur gay phones !!!! yas all live wit yesa mammies !!!

  • Я said on Feb 08 08 at 4:40 pm:

    АХУЕНА!!!!

  • Sierra said on Feb 12 08 at 10:02 pm:

    I like Retroxis a lot. I am attracted by black-red combinations on slim phones. :)

  • Dino said on Feb 18 08 at 4:18 pm:

    The retroxis is the coolest phone where can i get one

  • the real dino said on Feb 19 08 at 11:24 pm:

    the retroxis is the best phone. it actually looks normal.

  • Dan said on Feb 20 08 at 4:45 pm:

    How about a phone that actually works and is reliable verses one with a Wow factor that looks like cheap jewelry?

  • Anthony Nicholl said on Feb 20 08 at 11:02 pm:

    I would like to see more energy going into development of real real-time texting.
    I've been looking at accessibility of phone systems in general, with a particular interest for the deaf population, and there's no doubt that cell phone text is more acceptable than the terrible TTS "acccessible" public phones.
    The technology is there.
    The market is enormous and growing.
    Just needs a bit more effort in making texting easier and immediate.

    tonicho

  • Herb Posner said on Feb 21 08 at 1:45 pm:

    wow

  • sham said on Feb 26 08 at 12:06 pm:

    are yas all deaf are ya ???? nah yas are just too stuuupit to be able to come up wit sumit to say back !!! yeaaau

  • Me said on Feb 26 08 at 9:31 pm:

    U guys should check out the samsung sch u740 and add it to your list. It is duel hinged so it flips like a reagular flip phone and then turns into a full keyboard. I wold give it 10 out of 10 stars. It is a verizon phone.

  • : ] said on Feb 29 08 at 1:08 am:

    sha na na na : ]

  • the thing said on Mar 01 08 at 1:11 pm:

    i like the nokia aeon it is the coolest phone i hear it has voice texting like u can say words and they show up as a text

  • Geekstrada said on Mar 15 08 at 3:58 am:

    Check out the EmporiaLife, just passed by FCC. It is EXACTLY what all you "I just want a phone" consumers want.

  • Sierra said on Mar 28 08 at 1:22 pm:

    What's so special about EmporiaLife, Geekstrada?
    3 hours talk time, no camera, no Bluetooth, no infrared, no Java, no e-mail, and it's super ugly.

  • Marc Bernstein said on Apr 12 08 at 8:20 pm:

    how can I sell those phones?
    Please e-mail me
    Thanks

  • Jim said on May 02 08 at 7:47 pm:

    Most of these phones arent good atal, my 3310 is much better in ways such as technology, user friendliness and plain coolness

  • Charles said on May 02 08 at 9:35 pm:

    I say..... What the hell are you first few up there talking about??? The concept phones above look cool as hell and I can't wait for them to come out. I say the more graphics the better! I complain because my phone doesn't do enough!

    E-mail me if you have anything to say or if you agree or disagree with me.

    cdude69420@gmail.com

  • Andrea said on Jul 29 08 at 12:46 am:

    umm! there kinda weird i mean why bother spending a bunch of money to not only by one but to make them! i mean who would even pay for one of these ! and now that the economy is sooo messed up! this is ridiculous!

  • Damon said on Aug 11 08 at 9:50 am:

    They are all awesome and it is kind of annoying how alot of you said "I agree" or something in similarity. The concept of the future is to melt you FUCKING FACE OFF with something your phone dosn't need at a jacked up price. I think alot of things are in the same boat. So don't complain. It's now the future and things that used to look glammed out aren't so bright now that we're right in front of it.

  • Sierra said on Aug 11 08 at 12:51 pm:

    I don't understand those of you that believe such concepts are useless and consider other things to be more important. It is not about that.
    The development idea for all the things in this world involves making them simpler, easier to use and understand (for example by adding a multi-touch display and direct-access buttons in phones' case), and to enhance their aesthetics by adding elements from fashion trends. Things get simpler and more beautiful. Everybody wants to reach perfection.

  • eaun peter said on Aug 18 08 at 3:50 pm:

    rubbish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a load of crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Sebastian said on Sep 04 08 at 7:18 am:

    I agree about some people out there sometimes forget about the call quality and phone properly features when you talk about new phones as Smart phones, or pda. But don't you love guys, all that stuff in there? All the possibilities that you will never use but you still want them to be there? I love that my phone can get me to internet, and I even want it faster, I love to listen to music and see videos on the go, and I even want streaming for free. I mean I would love to have a Computer in my Phone (160G, 3G ram). Yeah I know I'm sick!! and I'm sorry. But I love all the new stuff out there and I'm always waiting for more. What really scare me is that happens so fast. Nice stuff guys!!!

  • meaghan said on Sep 28 08 at 5:11 pm:

    OMG MY FAVOURTIE IS THE Asus Aura its so cool i have the lg rumor and i love it :P put some more on thats so cool

  • helobethany said on Sep 28 08 at 8:59 pm:

    omg at all these phones, they're so amazing.
    I love technology and I love having flashy items even more.
    <3

  • colennmoi said on Sep 30 08 at 10:00 pm:

    these things are really weird

  • jessica arzate said on Oct 24 08 at 9:54 pm:

    where can i get this phone at

  • Sierra said on Oct 25 08 at 9:00 am:

    Jessica, I know where you can find a Nokia Aeon Chinese replica if you like. Read about it here.

4 trackback(s) on 10 Coolest Concept Phones Out There


Apr 25, 2007: ebelog : Cell Phones Of the Future

Dec 22, 2007: The Ted Winder Blog » Blog Archive » BBC gets it wrong… again

Mar 27, 2008: SOme cool Concept phones - SpiceUpBindas

May 16, 2008: 3G iPhone? - Page 2 - Bluepearl Design