Cellphone torture

No, we're not talking about happy slapping — we're talking about actual cellphones being tortured in the name of rigorous product testing as set forth by Siemens. To make sure their handsets can withstand "the demands of popular SMS messaging," they strap 'em down on a lab bench and hook them up to these crazy gizmos that depress the keys up to 400,000 times (this guy could have a lucrative career waiting), one of about 20 basic quality assurance tests — we were too scared to ask what the other 19 are. They also apparently have some of the more sadistic members of the Siemens staff document the whole works and publish the pics to their website.

[battamer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

At least one is temperature.

http://www.ic.siemens.com/index.jsp?sdc_p=cz3s6uo1269093pn1031338flmi1031581&sdc_sid=12831804328&sdc_bcpath=1031582.s_6%2C&

[chuck @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

only 400,000 times? if that indian guy had a siemens, he'd have to get a new phone every month.

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

That test station is named Adonis :-)

[Jay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Cell phones have feelings too..

[matti @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

i wonder what happens if the phones dont pass the test.. do they really bother to change the construction or do they only give it a shorter warranty time :P

[Derrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

Wonder what Nokia does to its phones?

[jands @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I wonder if this has something to do with the battery explosions... are the cell phones blowing themselves cause of this?????


Someone needs to get to the bottom of this.....

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I don't know about any of you, but this image is totally turning me on. It's like tech-porn -- aww yeahh.

Fishes,
narco.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

narco...

Furniture porn is WAY better... http://www.altervistas.com/sites/weird/154

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

I guess my Nokia wen through no tests.

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

They should test the ribbon that connects the top and bottom part of clamshell phones. I hear that they tear appart after a year of use.

[Chris Miller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

For some reason, the first thing that came to mind when I saw this was "Darth Pager"...

[Chris Miller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

For some reason the first thing that came to mind when I saw this was 'Darth Pager"...

[DMage @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

This must be something new at Siemens Labs, because my 1 year old SL56 has 5 buttons that no longer work and I can assure them that I have not depressed the buttons anywhere close to 400,000 times...

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:21AM]

#14, perhaps that is your phone in the picture.