Samsung looks to patent two new gaming phone designs

Samsung looks to move forward into the realm of mobile gaming with two new U.S. patents involving gameplay-oriented handsets. For starters, patent #1 (pictured above) describes a "portable communication terminal for games." The display on this design involves a hinged "flip" that unveils a dual-row numeric keypad complete with phone navigational array when opened, and a gaming d-pad when closed (we hope that hinge is solid); the 'A' and 'B' buttons are near the earpiece and always visible. More info on the second patent application after the break.

[via Unwired View]

Read - Patent 1
Read - Patent 2

Patent #2 (pictured above) centers on a "portable communication terminal with foldable keypad" with several references to a hinge (perhaps a sliding type of some sort). On this design, the display swivels up and out of the way to display the numeric keypad, which is hidden when playing games. Both of these handset patent applications detail handsets with gaming as the first priority and calling / texting as a second priority, kinda like a recent patent application from Samsung on a joystick phone.

[mike k. @ Aug 14th 2007 7:50AM]

I can't get into this for the simple fact that a phones shelf life, ownership life is so short. A gaming system would barely get out 3 games on the thing.

[ryan.sahb @ Aug 16th 2007 6:04AM]

I hope this doesn't go the way of the N-Gage, I believe phones can actually be used for gaming, IF the companies do it right.

[roach @ Aug 14th 2007 10:07AM]

Can you say N-Gage?

[losburritos @ Aug 14th 2007 12:16PM]

Funny. The 2nd model is already out in the market. And you guys covered it too or did that slip off your minds?

http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/02/samsungs-sch-b550-enters-n-gage-territory

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Aug 14th 2007 12:21PM]

Those look completely unusable as phones.

I don't understand the point of these. The N800 shows that it is completely possible to create a powerful, extensible do-everything device that does not cram itself full of unnecessary phone features. People do not need cell phones in everything they own. Hell, I am trying my hardest to avoid cell phones since when I am outside, away from my land line, I am probably Already Doing Something.

Want the crazy, unnecessary cell phone features? Plug it in to the n800!
Keeps everything much tidier, since the N800 can get away with not being a cell phone (but, rather, a very handy Internet tablet) and the cell phone you plug in can be a very simple, portable and tiny little device that is just that; a cell phone!

[Johan S @ Aug 14th 2007 6:33PM]

A Nintendo DS where the top screen is much higher resolution and (crucially) wide screen would be an awesome gaming device.