Zumba Phone: the Steorn Orbo of cellphones?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 30th 2009 5:01AM
posted January 30th 2009 5:01AM
Ready for this? The BBC is reporting on a "top-secret phone" developed by a 40-person strong ejector-seat technology company -- IA Technology -- from Hereford England. The Beeb calls it, "the world's first fully accurate voice recognition system for mobile phones." A bold claim (to say the least) from seemingly nowhere. The report starts with a dramatic lead-in, "It's a secret world, much of which we can't film," before introducing us to the Zumba phone. A phone so secret that the BBC can't even show us how it works. They do manage to demonstrate how it's worn. A retro slug-on-the-ear type earpiece is removed from a thin slab sporting a display and circular dialer reminiscent of Bang & Olufsen fashionphones. The device relies upon a "100% secure" connection to an "Internet portal" (apparently called Zumba Lumba) that holds all your contacts. If the phone is lost or stolen "it is instantly useless to anyone else." A lot of hype to be sure, especially with plans to deliver the Zumba to shops before Christmas. Hit the read link for the video and let us know what you think.
Update: Ha! The zumbalumba.com site just lit up with an unreadable, elementary school design and no detail other than a whispy concept called "Natural Connecting." Some sleuthing and cross-referencing by our readers, however, seems to link Zumba CEO, Dean McEvoy, to a group of party promoters. Good luck with this Dean, the whole internet is about to be up in your shiznit.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read -- BBC Video
Read -- IT Technology website
Update: Ha! The zumbalumba.com site just lit up with an unreadable, elementary school design and no detail other than a whispy concept called "Natural Connecting." Some sleuthing and cross-referencing by our readers, however, seems to link Zumba CEO, Dean McEvoy, to a group of party promoters. Good luck with this Dean, the whole internet is about to be up in your shiznit.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read -- BBC Video
Read -- IT Technology website
According to Companies House, IA Techonology used by known as INTERFACE ARTWORKS LIMITED.
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/9b6b74356463313de25a6ad077e9d32e/compdetails
Humm?
An advert, for the AIM listing, designed to get some money, so they can actually build one, as the one shown looks as if its made of solid plastic!
With x-tra large 5 button...
"It's well weapon"
iPhone killer. You watch.
Great if a British company manages to get something to market for a change instead of selling out to the Yanks as usual!Google was a no-one until they were big. You never know do you? Good luck to them I say! At least Mr McEvoy has got some balls compared to most wingeing Brits. Must be all that Liposuction, they gotta put it somewhere.
I don't remember anyone saying that it was going to be manufactured in Hereford.
I suspect that there is a large japanese company somewhere in the background.
Uni
I didn't hear anyone say it was being made in Hereford.
I suspect that they have a large japanese manufacturer involved already or they would not have talked to the BBC and let their competitors have a heads up.
Anyone remember Xelibri? =)