Bandai boldly introduces Smart Berry: the portable chat handheld for girls

We're guessing the naming scheme here was quite intentional, though we'll be the first to say Bandai's Smart Berry has very, very little in common with RIM's stockpile of handsets. Nevertheless, this "mobile communicator" joins the small crowd of other tween-centric chat handhelds with wireless capabilities that enable four of these things to talk to one another "for email, chat and online games within a 10-meter diameter." For whatever reason, messages are limited to 64 characters (and you thought SMS was bad...), and in case that little tidbit grows increasingly frustrating, there's a virtual pet on board to take your mind to a more blissful place. Sure, we can see younger gals being entertained by this for a few weeks or so, but the ¥10,290 ($96) price tag just seems a bit outrageous, particularly when you consider the lack of a color screen. Yeah, for real.

[Some Guy @ Jul 18th 2008 11:06AM]

Mylo clone much?

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Jul 18th 2008 11:29AM]

When will Bandai learn that people are more likely to buy products when they're unisex-looking. (That is, unless it's the Pippin.) Pink products are probably more likely to turn off existing potential female buyers than attract new ones.

[John @ Jul 18th 2008 11:49AM]

@high ranks
well, fortunately, that product is mostly blue and white.

[Mustaine @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:15PM]

only a matter of time before someone changes the hamster into Tux the penguin.

[Ogre @ Jul 18th 2008 11:07AM]

Looks like Sony finally found a market for the Mylo...

[zunq @ Jul 18th 2008 11:08AM]

A Sony Mylo that could become the next crackberry for youths in Japan...?

[Vic20 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:08AM]

OMG, DrrN Meerf iz a TTL hawtee LOLZ!!!11!!!

[striggity @ Jul 18th 2008 11:38AM]

Sarcastic humor fail.

[twelve @ Jul 18th 2008 11:08AM]

12

[Juxtah @ Jul 18th 2008 11:13AM]

1 meter range? Why not just, you know, talk? At least it doesn't cost $100 to do.

[Ethan @ Jul 18th 2008 12:25PM]

But then you can get two for effective social exclusion!

[Frun @ Jul 18th 2008 11:16AM]

So, are they implying the "Black"Berry is not as smart as this? Thems fightin' words.

[whowhatme @ Jul 18th 2008 11:24AM]

that's racist, dude

[Jeff @ Jul 18th 2008 11:28AM]

I actually *don't* think the naming was an intentional invoking of Blackberry. For one thing, Blackberries are not part of the popular consciousness there - they're not even sold to individual consumers at this point. Just businesses, and most businessmen use their own phones anyway. I have honestly never seen a single person in Japan using a Blackberry, or any references to it in pop culture.

I think it's more likely that this name was taken from "Love and Berry" or some other pop culture reference that has the word "berry" in it. (It's also possible that the word "berry" itself sounds similar to some Japanese word that means something else... that's the case with a lot of "English" words they use in situations like this, although I don't know what word "berry" would be invoking.)

[Jeff @ Jul 18th 2008 11:28AM]

I actually *don't* think the naming was an intentional invoking of Blackberry. For one thing, Blackberries are not part of the popular consciousness there - they're not even sold to individual consumers at this point. Just businesses, and most businessmen use their own phones anyway. I have honestly never seen a single person in Japan using a Blackberry, or any references to it in pop culture.

I think it's more likely that this name was taken from "Love and Berry" or some other pop culture reference that has the word "berry" in it. (It's also possible that the word "berry" itself sounds similar to some Japanese word that means something else... that's the case with a lot of "English" words they use in situations like this, although I don't know what word "berry" would be invoking.)

[redelephantlabel @ Jul 18th 2008 11:20AM]

Whoops... doesn't RIM have some sort of comprehensive copyright on the suffix "-berry" in any electronic device? Hope they don't plan on selling in the US.

[Alex @ Jul 18th 2008 11:38AM]

Wow...sounds like one company hasn't heard of something called, "Pictochat".

Sorry Bandai, you lose.

[Samurai Jack @ Jul 18th 2008 11:43AM]

Not even the virtual pet that looks like Hamtaro (does Bandai own the rights to that?) can save this one. Looks like a failure to me.

[unicode787plus @ Jul 18th 2008 12:22PM]

Now it just needs some way to communicate with a Tamagotchi (who remembers those annoying freaks?)
And Bandai owns Tamagotchi, I believe.

[breadfish @ Jul 18th 2008 12:31PM]

This thing is like a horrible fusion between a Cybiko and Sony's Mylo, therefore destined to be a massive flop. :D

[lukas88 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:44PM]

Good thing they used a monochrome display, little girls can't see in color anyway.

[phanbouy @ Jul 18th 2008 1:47PM]

sweet! let's get those antisocial habits engrained early!

[SuperSexyErik @ Jul 18th 2008 3:46PM]

oh good, we found a use for blackberries now that they're all outdated :)

[hobartrus @ Jul 18th 2008 5:27PM]

Hmm... sort of a child locating device for pedophiles.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 19th 2008 12:43PM]

Given the 10 meter range, it's probably only for blind pedophiles.

[Jack @ Aug 29th 2008 7:57AM]

isn't that what the DS is for? its certainly what mine is for!

[Appdirect @ Jul 18th 2008 5:43PM]

I want one.

[Steven @ Jul 18th 2008 11:46PM]

Are we getting so lazy to the point that we can't open our mouths to talk to someone 1 meter away?