The world’s smallest slider phone – which comes in at about the size of two fingers – has been launched by S.T Dupont, in a move that goes against the current trend of larger, ample-screened models making their way onto a market inundated with smart phones. The tiny, golden model is producing by an independent developer, and is seemingly banking on its size and novelty value to bring it sales, being noticeably out of date on other features.
Many of the standard features on the Golden Bumble Bee – which is set to cost around $180 in the US – would be seen as antiquated on a five-year-old phone, and like many independent phone sellers, S.T Dupont can probably expect significant difficulty getting to the market as more than a novelty product. Nevertheless, the usability of such a small device is worthy of ‘rich man’s play thing’ status, if not for any sustained practical use.
Equipped with a mini USB port, 8 GB memory (barely worthy of the USB port, in all honesty), FM radio, stereo speaker and tiny 2MP camera (8MP is not uncommon these days, guys!), developers are clearly dependant on the tiny size and quirky ‘bling’ design of the handset to bring in a few sales, as well, perhaps, as hoping to gain a reputation through breaking the record, though perhaps ‘world’s smallest slide phone’ is not the most prominent record to hold.
The handset has also prompted a few comments on its ‘Transformers’ influences, which include the base of the handset having an obvious connection to the shape of the cartoon robots and the (presumably unregistered) use of a Transformers logo on the back of the handset. Early reports have suggested that the gold paint used in the production of the handset makes for an easily damaged finished product, while some popular cell phone blogs have even suggested that the claim to be ‘the world’s smallest slide phone’ may not be true, though Xingtone are yet to see evidence to support this suggestion.
The Golden Bumblebee is certainly not going to become a multi-national best seller, but it has received arguably the most press of any indie phone for some time, and offers an interesting novelty take on handset development without really offering anything new. If you’re after a bling-heavy handset you can string from your key fob, though, this might be just the thing.
