To Flip or Not to Flip

 Today’s cell and smart phone models suit any style and taste. There seems to be a movement away from flip style; however, the flip has its selling points. With an intuitive interface and a compact size, it can be very functional. From the flip phones used on the original Star Trek TV series to the popular StarTAC in the 90s to the first RAZR of a few years ago, we are left with a multitude of different variations today, many fully loaded with the sophisticated features found on smart phones.

Just think about making phone calls with early Blackberrys that had voice capabilities – they did not resemble phones at all and were somewhat clunky. Flips, on the other hand, extend from ear to mouth, so you do not have to ever take the phone away from your ear to speak clearly into the mic or vice versa.

Smart phones are getting better for voice conversations. And, in the future, we will likely see clever new ways to use the flip design to meet the needs of today’s consumers – think of a folding touchscreen device that, when fully extended, acts as a single screen surface. Better intuitive ideas, incorporating flip, are bound to come in the near future.