Bluetooth Ericofon hack reminds us of that time we saw an Ericofon on TV once

Yeah, we're a little too young to claim full enjoyment of this modern design icon, outside of a few film cameos and its spot at the MoMA, but Ericsson's Ericofon (pictured), originally released in the 50s, is certainly a design worthy of the Bluetooth treatment. In a well-documented hack done up by Santiago Q., the handset can be set up to use the rotary dial, pump out the original Ericotone ring, and even offer up a dial tone when ready for input. Santiago has the software and instructions freely available on his project blog, and there's video demonstrating the handset in action after the break.

[WyldeChef Posted Jan 4th 2010 1:50PM]

Strangely enough I am not too young. My grandparents had a phone like this in their kitchen and I remember even then I found it highly interesting. Hell it probably seeded my love for gadgets.

[PaulY Posted Jan 4th 2010 1:58PM]

@WyldeChef Sadly, I grew up with one. My step-father had one in his office until I was 18 or so and they moved. Red one. I used to love using it, but in reality it was quite impractical. Very uncomfortable to use and way too easy to accidentally hang up. Nonetheless, this is a really cool mod. I'll have to ask if he still has it somewhere in storage.

[Anthop Posted Jan 4th 2010 1:53PM]

That is amazingly retro.

[bottlecap Posted Jan 4th 2010 2:10PM]

That is just too cool. I mean, I bet if any of the designers are still around they love to see that a piece of theirs is still being ooo'ed and ahh'ed at 50 years later.

[bstrobl Posted Jan 4th 2010 2:24PM]

Does it come with a vibrator?

[stg30rg3 Posted Jan 4th 2010 2:35PM]

Looks like the handset telephone linesmen used to carry while dangling from telephone poles...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2010 2:45PM]

I bet you could hack that yellow device into a Sybian!

[versii Posted Jan 4th 2010 3:17PM]

I have one on my desk. I do love iconic designs! (Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 5000 too)

[POZ Posted Jan 4th 2010 3:20PM]

I remember this. This is very assholey!

[rotarydialz Posted Jan 4th 2010 3:33PM]

That is a pretty nice retro touch.

[Damon29 Posted Jan 4th 2010 4:31PM]

Just curious if anyone deciphered the pulse length to get the number he was "dialing" to his voicemail...LOL.

[Shunnabunich Posted Jan 4th 2010 6:30PM]

I gotta admit, I smiled when he said he was calling himself on "Skypie". :)

[Tonnica Posted Jan 4th 2010 10:36PM]

Cool stuff, the last time I saw a phone like that was when I was watching Wild Wild Planet (I Criminali della Galassia) on DVD. The thing is huge but the design is so outstandingly unique it's timeless.