Orange's BIC phone comes ready to talk, doesn't require ballpoint licking first

The BIC phone has very little to do with famed pen / razor / etc. maker BIC outside of the branding agreement, but we suppose the disposable nature of dried-up writing utensils and this curious cellphone is somewhat similar. Granted, the official word from Orange is that this handset is "not a throw-away product," but unless users mail off a registration form to the carrier and wait for the phone to be activated, the mobile (and the hour of calls it comes with) will be rendered useless in two months. The selling point here is the unpack-and-talk nature, not to mention the €49 ($77) price, but those hoping to grab a low-cost phone, hack it and use it elsewhere may be heartbroken to find that this one does nothing more than talk, text and tune into FM radio. Check it out soon (if you're so inclined) in French convenience stores.

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

Read - Orange press release
Read - More details

[Dillon @ Jul 14th 2008 10:43AM]

All your peanut-shaped packaging are belong to French cellphones.

[bohsocks @ Jul 14th 2008 10:58AM]

Is it just me or is the green phone envious of the orange phone's schweet packaging?

[bohsocks @ Jul 14th 2008 11:02AM]

Oh, and Engadget, why list the US price when the thing isn't even going to be sold here?

[andres @ Jul 14th 2008 11:52AM]

@bohsocks
for comparison

[Phoenix @ Jul 14th 2008 1:33PM]

Wow. That phone is truly FTL and the packaging isn't much better... >_>

[maty @ Jul 14th 2008 10:48AM]

For the same price I can get a phone that does more, better Pay-as-you-go plans and no form filling-in required.

I 'pfft' at this idea.

Pfft.

[bohsocks @ Jul 14th 2008 10:57AM]

Unless I'm mistaken... don't you only have to fill in the registration card if you wish to talk after two months?

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 14th 2008 11:00AM]

Does it have a pen built into it? If it does, it will be a bit difficult to write with. It should have a slot at the top where you can slip in some replaceable razor blades to grab a quick shave.

They say it's not a throwaway product, but it really appears to be one. Pick it up, try it once, throw it away and get an iPhone instead.

[fred @ Jul 14th 2008 11:39AM]

Seriously, is your whole persona supposed to be the official Apple shill of Engadget?

I cant believe that you are an actual adult writing supposedly serious comments. You have top be playing a character of some sort.

[Jerk Face @ Jul 14th 2008 11:03AM]

That is preeeeetty stupid.

[Yuri @ Jul 14th 2008 11:08AM]

So wait, you have a $77 cell phone, which is only good for 2 months?

But they said it wasn't disposable...

I figured it'd at least be like a better form of pre-paid, such as you can just buy more cards for new minutes.

I honestly don't see the good with this phone...

[Revels @ Jul 14th 2008 11:10AM]

What an ideal communication device for ne'er-do-wells.

[Eldiablo @ Jul 14th 2008 1:17PM]

I was thinking the same thing - ideal for the secret service, terrorists and rich dudes (and dudettes) that like to cheat on their partners.

[Ivan @ Jul 14th 2008 11:16AM]

BIC must have sooo much money to throw away that its not funny

[jperry2010 @ Jul 14th 2008 11:44AM]

Two words

iPhone Killer

[GadgetNut @ Jul 14th 2008 11:46AM]

These are similar to condoms in vending machines inside the public restrooms sold in case of emergency but this one will cost you dearly. I bet few stupid folks will still buy this just for curiosity :-)

[bohsocks @ Jul 14th 2008 1:10PM]

Yeah but I don't get to sue BIC if this phone breaking results in my girlfriend getting knocked up.

[Bill @ Jul 14th 2008 1:19PM]

Ridiculously expensive for a basic candybar phone.

[Michael Nelson @ Jul 14th 2008 4:58PM]

This is NOT an iPhone! >:-O

[Agent42 @ Jul 15th 2008 1:03AM]

wow. I can get a cheap nokia here in Canada from Virgin Mobile with $10 airtime for only $50.

So...this thing is a major LOSE.

[allenvanhellen @ Jul 15th 2008 2:13AM]

"YO! Tired of those pesky porcelain plates that won't seem to go away, no matter how many times you wash them in the dishwasher? They just keep appearing in your cupboards, waiting to be reused? You don't have to live under the tyrrany any more! Introducing the paper plate from BIC! Why strive for financial independence -- saving away for porcelain plates like your old-school, round-bagel-eating neighbors -- when you can just keep buying BIC paper plates with your major credit card for the rest of your life? Let those other fools sit around bored on Saturdays, taking care of their porcelain plates, babying them as if they're something of value. Not you! You can throw BIC paper plates around the house without fear of breakage! Use them as a frisbee with your dog! And soon, our disposable BIC plates will feature flexible OLED technology so you can read RSS feeds while you chow down on some microwave nachos. Delicious AND informative. And when you're done, simply throw it away! You're not wasting it! Philipino toddlers will find them while sorting through our trash, ripping the OLED displays and melting off the toxic plastics to extract trace amounts of heavy metals to trade for cash. It's the gift that keeps on giving! Let's see your porcelain plates do that!"