Today's cellphone market is highly focused on smartphones. Android and iPhone have a stranglehold on the market, but does that mean there isn't room for something different? Micro-Phone certainly hopes so, as it is looking to bring its tiny GSM phone to market with the help of crowd-funding service Indiegogo. Instead of focusing on apps and other advanced features, Micro-Phone is focused on making a device that is small enough to carry anywhere, while still offering useful features such a locator.
The main focus of Micro-Phone is the size. It is only 85 mm long by 55 mm wide (3.3 x 2.2 in). Its depth is a minuscule 5.5 mm. To put the size in perspective, an average credit card is about 85 mm long by 54 mm wide (3.4 x 2.1 in). Of course, it is quite a bit thicker than a credit card, but it's designed to be carried in some wallets, provided the pockets are deep enough.
Any GSM SIM card will work with the Micro-Phone as long as it supports 850/900/1800/1900 bands. For owners of a micro or nano SIM, the phone will come with an adapter that will allow it to be used.
The phone comes in two models, one with a locator, and one without. The locator uses mobile phone towers to triangulate the position of the Micro-Phone. The location of the phone can be seen using the smartphone application. For parents wanting to keep track of their kids, this is a feature that could certainly prove to be useful.
The Micro-Phone comes with a lithium-ion battery designed to offer a standby life of about 21 days, which makes it well suited to traveling.
Some other notable features of the Micro-Phone include a full-sized keypad, a 1.8-inch LCD screen, and plenty of functions users expect to find in phones like an address book, calculator, and so on.
Micro-Phone is in the middle of its funding phase on Indiegogo. Currently, the creators have received a little over US$14,000 of their $50,000 goal. To receive a phone without the locator, a pledge of $39 is required while the early bird special lasts, and after that, the price of the phone will be $49. With a locator, an early bird special of $69 is available. Once those sell out, the locator version will jump to $79.
Source: Indiegogo
