Cellphones are no longer a functional necessity. They have social, societal, class, strata and fashion implications that simply cannot be ignored. Thus while the race is on to get trendier and classier mobiles, another race has begun to get out 'glassier' mobile phones! And if you have come in late, let us assure that the heats for the race have already yielded some amazing results. Here are the ten finalists for the race to the champion ribbon.
1. LG Transparent Mobile Phone: LG-GD900
Here comes the pioneer! The LG-GD 900 was the first phone ever to bring about the transparent revolution in phones. This premium caliber handset comes with a sleek silver body, a sliding keypad which is translucent and has its very own dedicated Bluetooth headset.
2. The Nokia cellphone concept:
What appears like a piece of decorative plastic, suddenly lights up into a phone!This cellphone concept has been developed for Nokia by Juan Carlos Garzon, a Colombian designer. It features a cool translucent display. It also has a five megapixel camera embedded along with the amazingly neat touchscreen interface for easy usability. LED lights up the display for use in the dark and the hardware, battery and the on/off button are neatly enclosed in an elegant 'lower case'! The transparent display is definitely the 'capital' selling point here.
3. Mobiado and Aston Martin:
When a luxury car maker joins hands with a luxury phone maker, you can definitely expect something awesomely 'mobile'! That is exactly what Aston Martin and Mobiado have teamed up to produce. The concept phone that has been named 'CTP002' is delightful in its simplicity and overwhelming in its features. The android phone concept, integrated with Facebook, Twitter and modern technology, plans to make all your 'virtual' life transparent to your friends and loved ones.
4. Transparent cell phone:
What is amazing about this phone from designers Cho Sinhyung & Jeon Jungjae is the fact that it will automatically alert you as the battery dies down! As the battery life reduces, so does the transparency of the phone! You know its time for a recharge when you hold a piece of grey matter in you hands. They plan to use an E-ink to achieve their goal. The concept may not have much utility value but it definitely scores high on the 'cool' value! The designers will have days of bounty ahead if their concept catches the eyes of giants like Apple, Nokia or Sony.
5. Glassy Glassy:
Now this is what we call true transparency! This mobile phone concept has been developed by a Tokyo based designer, Mac Funamizu. It is so cool that it has to be titled with a double 'glassy' to emphasize its absolute transparency. What looks like a simple printed plastic has all the circuitry and features of a full fledged phone!
6. Fully transparent smartphone based on Windows Mobile:
Samsung's transparent smartphone boasts of a feature other transparent phones do not have. They have borrowed the concept of Windows screensavers into this Windows based mobile. While like other phones, it has a transparent display and keypad, it also features a screen that changes the display style based on the weather! So the next time you find dew drops or ice covering you phone, do not panic. It is just the phone's way of being ready for a rainy day!
7. Transparent crystal cell concept:
Relax and have dreams. Awake and arise to achieve them. BloodRabbit has got the first part right with its amazing transparent concept phone. The phone is designed to be the size of a credit card and as light as one too. Now, who could have ever thought your credit card and cellphone could both fit into your wallet one day. But how does one fit in all the electronics? That is the "awake and arise" part BloodRabbit is working on.
8. RFR IPhone Next:
Apple is ever on the forefront of innovation with style. And now, powered by a concept from Fabio Merzari, Apple has just brought in another variable into the transparent phone market. The phone can be used, both in an open or closed condition. This means that the user changes the very dimensions of the phone! Quite a bit of 'shape memory' alloy has gone into the modeling of the phone which also comes with two OLED screens for the transparent display. The phone has been christened, “RFR IPhone Next,” and is definitely a next generation phone.
9. View the world through the ‘Eye’ cellphone
The designer of the DOT Hybrid Cellphone and Stix cellphone is back and with a bang too! A futuristic cellphone which alludes to Apple with its name, "Eye phone" literally allows you to see the world ahead of you as you look at it! With ability to view movies, hear music, browse the net, connect to Facebook and Twitter, built in camera, a GPS system and many more features, the phone allows you to carry your world along!
10. Lenovo's transparent EL panel-totting S800 mobile phone
While everyone is going gaga over transparent phones, Lenovo recognizes the need for some privacy too! Their concept design allows only a little over 40 percent of the light to pass through the phone. So, while the phone is still transparent, a curious onlooker cannot decipher anything that is on the user's screen. Now that is a very thoughtful gesture don't you feel?
