Designed by Softbank, Japan's Mimamori phone is almost an entirely one-way dial phone with very limited features.
Would you want a phone that could only receive text messages and dial three preset numbers? According to Softbank, this phone was initially designed for children so that they could only call family, receive calls from a restricted few and send their GPS location to a designated phone with the pull-string.
After creating these phones, the company decided to try and sell these devices to a larger audience instead of focusing on a growing market -- no pun intended. Restaurants began purchasing these phones to give to customers so they could walk around instead of waiting in line. An added bonus to the already cheap plan is that by adding the Ichi Navi GPS app, you can track the phone holder whenever you want, making it an excellent stalking device.
No-Frills Mobile Devices
The Mimamori Phone Restricts Calls and Locates the Owner At Will
Trend Themes
1. No-frills Devices - The development of simple, inexpensive, and limited-featured devices for specific purposes.
2. GPS Tracking - The use of GPS technology to track the location of people or objects for safety or logistic purposes.
3. Targeted Marketing - The use of customized marketing strategies based on customer location to increase sales.
Industry Implications
1. Telecommunications - Companies can explore creating low-cost and no-frill devices to meet a variety of needs and markets.
2. Retail - Retailers can use GPS-enabled devices to enhance customer experience and reduce wait times
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketers can use location-based data to create targeted and contextual campaigns.