Skip to main content

Emporia bringing simplified mobile phones to North America



Although it can't be denied that smartphones are ... well, that they're really smart, the fact is that not everyone wants to play games, shoot and watch videos, surf the web or use apps every time they step out their door. For many people, the ability to make and receive phone calls is all that really matters. It was for minimalists like these that Austrian electronics company emporia designed its very basic, large-keyed mobile phones. While they were previously not available to North American consumers, that changed with an announcement last week at CES.


North American availability of the emporiaCLICK (left) and emporiaSOLIDplus (right) has been announced at CES


There are two phones scheduled for release in the new market - the emporiaCLICK and the emporiaSOLIDplus.




The CLICK has a clamshell design, and incorporates features such as:

Digital camera
One-touch Call for Care emergency function - push to dial emergency services or up to five stored numbers until someone picks up
SMS and MMS texts
LED flashlight
Incoming call alert with LED light, high-powered vibration motors, and very high-volume ringtone capability
Bluetooth and hands-free function
Alarm clock and calculator
Hearing aid-compatible speakers
Three dedicated speed dial keys
A full charge of its battery should provide 240 minutes of talk time, or 320 hours on stand-by. It will sell for under US$100.



While some of the CLICK's features suggest that it's aimed at seniors, the SOLIDplus appears to be more of a "chuck it in your backpack/tool box and go" phone. It meets MIL-STD-810F military specifications, which means that it can withstand exposure to dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, altitude and extreme temperatures. Some of its other features include:

Extra-hard display glass
Call for Care function
Bluetooth and hands-free function
LED flashlight
Incoming call alert with LED light
Alarm clock and calculator
Extra-loud speakerphone
Splash-proof
It also offers 240 minutes of talk time, or up to 25 days on stand-by. It will be priced somewhere under $150.

Both of the emporia phones should be available in the U.S., Canada and Latin America, as of this spring.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Modular housing concept boasts 64 possible combinations

Italian Designer Gabriel Aramu has conceptualized a modular housing system that seems to offer endless possibilities. Dubbed "Sliding Hub," these prefabricated cubes join together to create a temporary housing solution for multiple situations. In the event that emergency shelters are required, the modules can be packed and transported to any destination. On arrival, the modules are easily joined together, with the flexibility to house individuals, small groups or large numbers without limitation. Each module incorporates an insulation system suitable for all kinds of weather conditions. In addition, the temporary accommodation units provide a comfortable standard of living, important to natural disaster victims. Constructed with steel reinforcements, numerous modules can be assembled together to create various sizes and shapes, whilst sliding them open creates large internal spaces. According to Aramu, the system can be configured 64 different ways, wh...

Green Racer: Elegant Eco-Car With Throw-Away Body

Old cars and car parts make up a huge part of the worldwide waste stream. A team of designers in the Philippines has developed a rather sophisticated response to that problem with this car, which they’ve named The Phoenix. The prototype has a body made of biodegradable materials that you can simply throw away when you no longer need the car. The gorgeous design looks like some kind of space-age bed, but it’s definitely built to rule the road in true environmental style. While most people only keep their cars for five to ten years, the biodegradable body of the Phoenix is meant to completely break down in the same amount of time – so within a decade this car could go from factory to the road and back to the Earth. While the body is simply thrown away, the metal chassis can be reused again and again until the parts wear out. The body is made of a mix of bamboo and rattan, so it’s doubtful that it would ever pass safety tests and make it onto the road. But it’s a love...

A Father and Son

Father and son relationship are typically formed like this.