I’m not a huge fan of concept phones. They tend to be very futuristic and extremely unrealistic. However, Designers Anish Shakthi, Phaniram Lalpet, Kamaljeet Kaur, Raghavendra Rao & Prateyush Das have produced a BlackBerry concept “phone” (Opus) that is not only simply beautiful but it’s not beyond the realms of imagination that it could be produced.
What I like about the concept is that the designers have chosen not to produce yet another BlackBerry with a physical keyboard, but a small all-touch communication device. This would give the device a global market, instead of appealing to the existing small niche of BlackBerry afficiendos. Being a modular device, modular physical keyboards could be produced for those who still want that.
Opus is a digital Office Identity Card that helps you operate better, communicate effectively. Placed intuitively around your neck, it gives you only the tools necessary to manage your day to day work in a connected office network.
The device provides you with quick voice notes, calling and texting for smoother team work, becomes your partner during presentations, keeps a database for all your daily tasks and documents, and helps keep you focused by blocking out distractions.
And if that’s not enough, it connects with the Slate, an extension to itself.​​​​​​​
According to the designers:
“The BB Network isn’t a phone, its your enterprise communication solution. Build explicitly and rather well for all your office needs, the BB Network is your go-to device for everything related to work. It comes in a size that’s small enough to get the job done while occupying as less space as possible.
Built to work as the RFID card that you would use to swipe into our out of your office, the BB Network is exactly that size too, and can be hung around from your neck or clipped to your pocket, much like your office ID.
It’s even optimized to work keeping your office schedule and needs in mind, giving you access to your tasks, reminders, mails, flight tickets, etc. all accessible from within the home screen. “
The concept device comes with its own payments gateway that allows you to use your phone as a payment card
The designers haven’t stopped at the physical design but have come up with some great software features:
Another great feature is the Network’s Meeting Mode, a mode that lets your phone focus only on functionality, silencing all calls and notifications while you’re in a meeting.
Putting your phone in the Meeting Mode also turns your phone into a multimedia device, allowing you to use it as a digital pointer, and to control presentations directly from within your phone.
Will we ever see TCL produce a phone like this concept? Probably not, but it’s nice to dream.
Kudos to the designers for a fantastic concept.
