A new, and slightly ridiculous, phone from Japanese mobile carrier Willcom is touted as the world's smallest and lightest. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be in the running for world's most practical.
The Phone Strap 2, which replaces a similarly diminutive predecessor, isn't exactly feature-packed. Its 1-inch screen can display contacts, SMS, and text-based emails, and it only provides a rather disappointing 2 hours of talk time.
But the device makes up for its limited capabilities (in Willcom's eyes, anyhow) with its petite dimensions. It measures just 1.26 inches across its face, and is 2.75 inches tall (if you don't count the cute flip-out antenna). Its 10mm (0.39-inch) thickness isn't as impressive, but it could be chunkier.
Who exactly this phone is aimed at is a mystery, although the company is only making 12,000 of them, so it's clearly meant to be a niche product. Perhaps people whose pockets or purses are already so full that they can't fit an ordinary feature phone will find some value in this strange little device.
The Phone Strap 2 will only be available in Japan, although when is not known yet, nor is price. More info and pictures are available at Willcom and Impress (Japanese).
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
