Willcom concept phone powered by single AA battery

Japanese carrier Willcom has hooked up with Sanyo to show off a back-to-basics handset powered by a single AA battery -- one of Sanyo's own Eneloop rechargeables, naturally -- that still manages to serve up 5 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby. Just how back-to-basics are we talking, exactly? For starters, the phone lacks a display, pretty much ending any hopes of using this thing for gaming, video playback, or seeing who the heck is calling. In exchange, though, you get power versatility that's pretty much unmatched by any other phone on the market and an array of nodules that gently massage the side of your face while you're trying to hold a conversation. Between the perfectly round shell (looks like an AA battery, get it?) and the fact that it'll only get down with PHS networks, we hope this sucker goes through a few revisions before it sees production -- but we like where Sanyo's head's at.

[daedalus @ Aug 27th 2007 1:26PM]

Even for 'back to basics' this thing looks like it takes it's design cues from a Nokia 3310 and a vibrator from the 70's

[Yimmy @ Aug 27th 2007 1:26PM]

Not exactly sure why people and companies are still creating devices that look like they came out of a 1991 tv show that was trying to predict what the future would look like. Cmon people, it's 2007, we want shiny and pointless features, that's what is going to get our wallets open.... I can't stop staring at that phone, it's like a train wreck.

[Mike @ Aug 27th 2007 1:27PM]

Hmm... Reminds me of something I found when I was a kid rummaging around my Moms dresser drawer.

[JC @ Aug 27th 2007 1:38PM]

T.M.I.

[alex @ Aug 27th 2007 1:40PM]

I like your mom.

[zfurie @ Aug 27th 2007 2:09PM]

No, itsa face massager! Only one side though.

[Dragod @ Aug 27th 2007 1:41PM]

Because if I walk around with this in my pocket, it won't look like I'm over compensating for anything...

[t-bone @ Aug 27th 2007 1:43PM]

Only 5 hours of talk time on a AA? I bought a bluetooth headset that gained 22-25 hours of talk time over the competition by using a AAA instead of a built-in battery.

[Ed @ Aug 27th 2007 1:52PM]

You do realize that this is a phone... not a bluetooth headset. Thus two complete different power requirements.

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 27th 2007 1:45PM]

house phones with video playback..?

[xj @ Aug 27th 2007 1:45PM]

being able to change the battery yourself is a thing of the past! If they are smart, they will make phones with the batteries built in, so we can send it off when we need them replaced. I'm hoping other companies follow suit as well, like flashlights, remote controls and smoke alarms.

Excuse me, I have to go and be smug in the corner while I listen to michael buble and occassionally make calls.

[Jacob Buck @ Aug 27th 2007 2:16PM]

You've heard of the iPhone, right?

[ethana2 @ Aug 27th 2007 2:21PM]

That's what he was mocking. Of course he has.

Give us a while, folks, so we can have the openmoko ready to let you change your own battery, develop your own software, and choose your own network. ETA - 6 months from now.

You can pick one up now, but it's not recommended unless you really want to hack on it.

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 27th 2007 1:46PM]

that's ugly as hell

[Xzavier @ Aug 27th 2007 1:56PM]

boy... I'm not going to even say what that thing looks like. And a woman is holding it too!

[doh @ Aug 27th 2007 1:59PM]

Does it vibrate?

[Emceay @ Aug 27th 2007 6:25PM]

Now with french tickler!

[scruge @ Aug 27th 2007 2:10PM]

They could reduce weight, size and limited talk time if the used tight string instead.

[fistpittingnork @ Aug 27th 2007 2:12PM]

Where can I get some phone lube for this thing?

[fistpittingnork @ Aug 27th 2007 2:14PM]

"Ribbed for her pleasure... Eeewwwwwwww"

I'm here all night.

[fistpittingnork @ Aug 27th 2007 2:15PM]

"Ribbed for her pleasure... Eeewwwwwww"

I'm here all night.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 27th 2007 5:04PM]

What?

[cody @ Aug 27th 2007 2:17PM]

This would be perfect for my dad. lol

[Andrei Vassiliev @ Aug 27th 2007 2:56PM]

Dear lord.

[steve @ Aug 27th 2007 10:06PM]

T.M.I

[ethana2 @ Aug 27th 2007 2:23PM]

They should have known what everyone would think of when they designed that thing.

But then, it's japan, right? They're always being weird like that...

[Thomas @ Aug 27th 2007 2:47PM]

Are we sure this is a call phone and not a household portable phone? Can someone who reads Japanese confirm?

[Wolfticket @ Aug 27th 2007 3:24PM]

How about having a lithium battery standard that is also compatible with 3 aaa batteries as a backup?

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Aug 27th 2007 3:34PM]

Wow!
Do you people think "penis" whenever you come across a rounded object?

Anyway, I like this idea. If only it was smaller...
It would be great if I could just get a simple bluetooth cell phone, without any stupid / unnecessary features, and have it interface with the superior hardware of something that is actually Supposed to carry out those dropped features. (For example, an N800 or my PC).

[ektoras @ Aug 27th 2007 3:45PM]

its not that, its just that this thing blatantly resembles a vibrator...

but maybe yr too young to have seen one before >:)

[-Tj- @ Aug 27th 2007 8:39PM]

Smaller? I thought bigger was better. Wait a minute...

[Phil @ Aug 27th 2007 4:02PM]

I can see the advertising tag line now: "So she comes when you call her."

Seriously though, one A battery? It looks more like it would take 2 C batteries.

[Perry @ Aug 28th 2007 1:40AM]

A 2-D battery monster at that. LOL

[Pete @ Aug 27th 2007 6:00PM]

I can't imagine using a phone is easy if you're blind, but that thing is an accessibility nightmare.

[oshean @ Aug 28th 2007 11:47AM]

At first sight I thought this was a Nintendo Wii Phone. WiiPhone anyone?