Conceptual teddy bear phone shown off in Japan, could totally sell for $199 on contract

We've seen some bizarre -- bizarre -- handsets in our day, but this one is just too darn cute to call weird. The conceptual Kuma Phone was recently shown off in Japan by Willcom, and according to local reports, the audience in attendance absolutely adored it. The GSM teddy bear, er, mobile can hold up to four speed dial numbers, boasts a built-in vibration function and allows users to answer / terminate calls by "pressing the tail." An accompanying pamphlet suggested that it would run around $500 should it ever hit mass production, which leads us to wonder if they plan on using Boyds / Vermont Teddies or something.

[Via textually]

[deyanimay @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:16AM]

iphone killer, with the right weapons in hand of course.

[MrFairladyz @ Sep 2nd 2008 2:52PM]

m$'s phune could end up looking a lot like a teddy bear.....

where is the mic again?

[rony @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:16AM]

1.vibrating teddy bear, 2. sexy asian chick..............hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
p.s. of course they will hold it against their ears in public.

[BigD145 @ Sep 2nd 2008 2:09PM]

I'm not sure she can fit that bear in her cha-cha. Not sure she would want to, either.

On a side note that's completely related to this tech: teddy bear + bluetooth headset = the above.

[SleepyBum @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:25AM]

Sidetalkin'!!

http://www.sidetalkin.com/page-animals.html

[Ricardo @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:54AM]

Thanks mate, I had some good laughs here. That's the best comment! Ever!

[Hotrod @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:29AM]

They couldn't pay me $199 to use that thing, let alone have me shell it out to them.

[fanman @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:34AM]

At least the apple fanboys now know how we feel about the iPhone.

[BratPAQ @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:47AM]

no one is courageous enough to produce a cellphone shaped like a dildo, with customizable vibrate function (set interval and intensity of vibration)

[Joel @ Sep 5th 2008 11:47AM]

Heck, that would take phone sex to a whole new level!

[Vammo @ Sep 2nd 2008 2:58PM]

Of course, a Beach Boys ringtone would be standard...

"I'm diggin up good vibrations..."

[Gene @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:47AM]

looks like a stupid/fool/idiot...etc. (please add more ~)

[rita hainsworth @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:52AM]

I cant bear it.

[fitzy @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:38AM]

Is she fur real?

[fitzy @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:40AM]

Is she fur real?

[fitzy @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:42AM]

ok, this is me leaving.

[cheng @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:59AM]

is this the first time a double post has been high ranked instead of low ranked?

[Dr Zoidberg @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:06AM]

That lady, shes talking into that teddy bears crotch!

[Backlin @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:28AM]

Aw man, I was going to say something about that!

Maybe I can follow off with, "The last thing we need is Asian chicks talking into animals' crotches."

[Mr. Ford @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:56AM]

It needs a red, flexible, telescoping boom mic (furry of course). Here comes the lipstick!

[munchable @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:12AM]

This would be a great product for young children. They are more likely to hold on to a teddy-bear than a mobile, it could easily be programmed to phone mum.

[Neoprimal @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:19AM]

I don't care how 'sensible' it seems...I'm not having my kid talk into a teddy bears crotch.

I still can't believe it. If this is not some late/early April fools then...wow, just wow.

[Amz @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:26AM]

That's an ugly bear though.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:27AM]

Ha-Ha-Ha.

If it's Japan then we can be sure that the concept is a pun on phone of one of the main characters in Macross Frontier TV show (anime):

http://www.deranged-minds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mf0505.png (as per Google: http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&q=macross+frontier+ranka+phone&btnG=Search+Images )

the green thing is phone and teddy bear (well, it's not a bear) at the same time. On the picture it actually also has a hologram of her brother's avatar (skull): in the frame the teddy bear is playing voice message from him.

[Dark Angel @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:32AM]

How cute :)
I think it is too big.

[TareX @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:48AM]

It looks like she's talking to teddy's privates.

[Boobies! @ Sep 2nd 2008 8:00AM]

Can't they modify it so you don't have to speak to the teddy bear's penis?

[konshuss @ Sep 2nd 2008 10:03AM]

what penis?

someone adds a phone to an innocent stuffed toy and suddenly we have some of the filthiest comments anywhere... and that's the people against the idea!

[BratPAQ @ Sep 2nd 2008 10:55AM]

if the teddy has a speaker phone, then she can put it down, and talk to the teddy bear "normally". just make sure you dont have a friend named teddy, "hey teddy! how are you doin today!"

[DP @ Sep 2nd 2008 10:58AM]

Only in Japan.

[momotarosan @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:12AM]

"mushi, mushi..."

[OneLove @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:23AM]

I would like to hold that asian check against my ear and make a call. :)

[BratPAQ @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:52AM]

and talk to her crotch huh? well, me too :D

[Hellaphunt @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:47AM]

"Hello? Are you ok? I'll get you out of there as soon as I find a scalpel!" - Teddy ate her baby...

[Magallanes @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:22PM]

Welcome to 4chan!.

[Erikengd @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:38PM]

Talk about being ridiculous and amusing at the same time.

[AlphaTeam @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:52PM]

Will this make it to the States?

[WickedKP @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:54PM]

Man I just look forward to reading the comments.
It just makes my day.

[Sigwolf @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:43PM]

Why has no one commented on the first line of the article, "but this one is just too darn cute to call weird"? Excuse me? This is the very definition of weird... and stupid.

[ken @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:17PM]

pedobear, is that you?