The 3G Wrist Phone Arrives in Britain
Is it a Revolutionary Communication Tool or Impractical Boy's Toy?
Aug 8, 2009
Wrist phones have been available in Asia for years with varying degrees of functionality and success; but with the launch of the LG G910 at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the new hands free device has finally entered the mainstream mobile phone market. In an effort to compete, the makers of the wrist phone attempt to go one better by combining convenience with the latest smart phone technology.
Unique Selling Features of the 3G Wrist Phone
The unique selling features of the wrist phone are its size and wearability. Housed in a water resistant case and tempered glass covering a 1.4 inch touch screen, the new LG wrist phone is an attractive, if somewhat clunky watch, and a fully functioning phone that can support bluetooth, mp3 playback, video and still images, and, yes, it can even tell the time.
Having all these tools securely fastened around the wrist is very practical. A hands free device has the obvious benefit of not being as easy to steal as traditional handsets, of not disappearing down the bottom of a handbag, or accidentally falling into the toilet. Having two hands free while talking also has important safety implications especially while driving.
Downsides to the 3G Wrist Phone
One downside to the new wrist phone is the price. Selling for £1000 or $1290US makes the LG wrist phone a very expensive gadget. The practicality of the wrist phone has yet to be proven limiting the market to those who are less concerned with functionality and reliability than with having the latest technological toy. The price will inevitably fall as more markets open up for the device but it will undoubtedly be years before they are as cheap as regular handsets.
The second potential downside is battery life. How long a battery lasts is a perennial problem with mobile phones and questions are already being raised about the battery capability of such a small device. All the 3G bells and whistles will count for naught if the phone keeps running out of juice.
For many users the third downside will be aesthetics. The wrist phone is primarily designed for men. Not everyone can or will wear a heavy, larger than large watch or will only do so with certain clothes. The fashion conscious buyer will continue to carry their regular phones thereby defeating the practical, hands free aspect of the device.
The wrist phone may also have trouble escaping the geeky image of watch phones. Reminiscent of the old Casio calculator watches with a built in remote control for the television, the wrist phone is primarily for gadget lovers and for men who like talking into their wrists like wannabe secret service agents.
Ultimately, whether the wrist phone proves to be more Maxwell Smart than Dick Tracey will depend on its functionality and reliability in the real world of business and social communication. With bluetooth technology, most mobile phones are essentially hands free devices so how marketable the wearability feature will be remains to be seen.
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