Wearfone watch phone looks to style up Finns

Due to exceptionally poor machine translation from the Finnish language (what gives, Google?), we really don't know a whole heck of a lot about Wearfone's admittedly stylish watch phone. Reportedly, similar devices have been around the concept block, but a trio of investors are hoping to actually get this one on store shelves by the year's end. Thanks to our super-scientific methods of deciphering, we've determined that it will boast a touchscreen display, GSM connectivity and the ability to send / receive calls and text messages. Early reports pin the price at anywhere between €500 ($776) and €1,000 ($1,553), but that's the price you pay for having a technologically advanced timepiece that won't get you tarred and feathered in public.

[Thanks, Petteri]

[Ayman @ Jun 6th 2008 12:40AM]

the watch is very nice but still it hasnt been successful for the past 10 years

Plus not practical




Didnt Microsoft stop making watching a couple of months ago,

[Flashpoint @ Jun 6th 2008 1:16AM]

Wow, just $1500 !

this will go great with my Veyron, my Citation and my mansion in Howard Beach.

[Luke L @ Jun 6th 2008 4:27AM]

$1500 What?? this is also the D188i and is around $235... http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1627&HS=1

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 6th 2008 12:40AM]

That's practical. Fifteen minutes of talk time and great for internet browsing, I'm sure. Pffft. :-p

At least they're not touting it as an iPhone killer.

[Erik @ Jun 6th 2008 1:00AM]

Yeah, at least the iPhone can brow--wait, what?

I realize you're probably one of the biggest fanboys on this site, but honestly?

We're talking about a watch phone that's actually svelte, and you have to bring fruit where it isn't wanted.

[Ayman @ Jun 6th 2008 12:40AM]

LAST!!!

[Ian @ Jun 6th 2008 1:23AM]

well ill give u a plus just because you were right, at one time. and you were trying to be a bit witty.

[d @ Jun 6th 2008 6:43AM]

speaking of witty, I think some finns could use a little style up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lNFRLrP014

[asahwu @ Jun 6th 2008 12:45AM]

Looks thin at this angle, but check out how deep that shadow is on the hand. Might be pretty beefy when you look at it at other angles.

[Jukka @ Jun 6th 2008 1:06AM]

No wonder Google can't translate that article, it's really bad finnish. But picking out the keypoints:
normal phone features (calls, sms, calendar, etc)
touchscreen
can be paired with a computer and then the computer can be used to control the phone
calls are made with headphones (they speak about radiowaves here, so I guess bluetooth. also they mention that the headphones will the smallest in the world)
only GPRS, no 3G
current hold up are the component suppliers (touchscreen aren't usually this small)
design might not be the final one


Hope that clarifies the situation some...

[Bman21212 @ Jun 6th 2008 1:12AM]

AWESOME! Thanks for the translation. The watch phone seems a little out of my price range, but looks good for the future.

[happy_penguin @ Jun 6th 2008 1:08AM]

quote from link: "The phone talking about korvanapeilla by Heikkinen praises the world's lowest kind."

HAHA!! :D Lovely!

[Kurian @ Jun 6th 2008 1:14AM]

I want a digital analog watch without a phone.

[Jayden @ Jun 6th 2008 1:47AM]

Does anyone have any idea on how you actually talk using this, because holding your wrist to your ear is highly impractical and uncomfortable. Maybe a bluetooth headset or something? Either way its a stupid idea, i would rather just pay less for a nice watch with all the features excluding phone calling.

[Petteri @ Jun 6th 2008 9:38AM]

Talking (and hearing) is done through an earpiece, which the makers are touting as "the worlds smallest" and using radio instead of bluetooth.

- P -

[Anticrawl @ Jun 6th 2008 1:50AM]

That'd be cool if it wasn't $1500 dollars.

[daveo @ Jun 6th 2008 1:50AM]

Bad machine translation because Finnish is the craziest god damn language in the world.

[Colin @ Jun 6th 2008 2:03AM]

Technology never comes together at just the right time. Back when cell phones were just phones, this thing would've been awesome- had Bluetooth been around: A phone and a wireless headset. Neat.

But now, I barely use my phone as a phone at all. I use it for email, text, music, internet-y stuff, etc.. Watch phones don't make any sense anymore.

[mcdoof @ Jun 6th 2008 2:15AM]

It's already available for 299EUR - from apoda

WinCE 5.0, OLED, water resistent

GSM / GPRS, memory card slot up to 2 gigs, bluetooth and many more features

[the_fozz @ Jun 6th 2008 2:20AM]

I want it but without the phone, that watch just LOOKS sexy.

speaking of which, where the hell are my OLED watches?

[gad get @ Jun 6th 2008 3:48AM]

Yeah, I'm still waiting for those!

[ShadowMaker @ Jun 6th 2008 2:52AM]

K.I.T.T I'm at the back of thebuilding. Pick me up.
Right away, Michael.

[Garst @ Jun 6th 2008 4:34AM]

That looks a lot like the Dick Tracy watch to me.

[Jaque-o @ Jun 6th 2008 4:51AM]

That does look sexy, doesnt it?

[antti.plathan @ Jun 6th 2008 6:04AM]

I made a quick translation of the news:

A Finnish company Wearfone Oy has announced its wrist phone concept, which they call "Rannukka", a made up word loosely combining Finnish words wrist and a cell phone.

The company is looking for pilot users for its product.

You can receive and make calls with the phone, send text messages and use other familiar cell phone applications such as a calendar. It will be possible to write text messages using character recognition. Wearfone has other plans also, but they're not ready to tell the details yet.

The phone has a touch sensitive display which is used to control the phone. There will be no qwerty keyboard, as it's impossible to fit that in such a small device.

It will also be possibly to connect the phone to a computer, and make calls and send text messages using the computer's interface. Initially the phone is 2.5G, i.e., no 3G support at least at this phase.

The calls are made using RF wireless earphones, which the company claim to be the smallest in the world. Because of the use of traditional RF wireless link the ear phones will last longer compared to (bluetooth) technology.

Wearfone was targeting for a Xmas launch, but that schedule may be delayed because it's difficult to find such small touch sensitive displays. However, the first (pilot) units should arrive next week.

They can't confirm the price yet, but tell that they can't compete with price. The price range could be between 500-1000 euros, perhaps even more.

Wearfone is still looking for additional investors.

[Jonne @ Jun 6th 2008 9:17AM]

Fast translation:

This is the clockphone from the Finnish invention TV-Series Leijonankita.

The Phone has been designed by the Kainuu located firm Wearphone OY. There are three local investors behind the phone. Taito Heikkinen showed off the clockphone in the Leijonankita tv-series on last autum on the Finnish tv-network MTV3.

Heikkinen would have gotten the "lions" (Leijona is lion for finnish) to invest in the phone but he didn't accept the deal the "lions" offered to him. Heikkinen asked the "lions" for 200 000euro

Wearfone is now searching for testers for their product.

The phone features a touchscreen display, and you can write sms with text regonition. The phone will be 2G only (no 3g). And you will tall to it thru a headset.

The Phone was ment to go out to the public to the chistmas market this year but the touchscreen manufacturer has delivery problems.

the price will be between 500 and 1000euro

[Sporkinum @ Jun 6th 2008 12:47PM]

Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I want to be
Pony trekking or camping
Or just watching TV
Finland, Finland, Finland
It's the country for me

You're so near to Russia
So far from Japan
Quite a long way from Cairo
Lots of miles from Vietnam

Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I want to be
Eating breakfast or dinner
Or snack lunch in the hall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all

You're so sadly neglected
And often ignored
A poor second to Belgium
When going abroad

Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all

Finland, Finland, Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland, Finland, Finland
Finland has it all