The Runcible is a spherical, palm-sized smartphone, developed by California-based startup Mohohm, that is looking to take our existing perceptions of what a smart communications device should look and feel like and rip them apart to shreds. Whereas all of us assume that cellphones have to be a) rectangular and b) noisy, Momohm believes they can be circular and silent. Who knew?
While there are few detailed specs available on the Runcible, we do know that it will feature a high-resolution camera, screen and regular phone capabilities. The device will run on the open-source Mozilla Firefox OS and will use mobile websites rather than apps to accomplish the same tasks as many apps.
Interestingly, much of Mohohm's pitch surrounds around how the Runcible is designed to get people to focus on the world around them rather than on their smartphone. This is certainly an interesting ploy when marketing to smartphone users who, if anything, are looking to increasingly live their lives on their devices.
Orb-Shaped Smartphones
The Runcible is 'the World's First Anti-Smartphone'
Trend Themes
1. Spherical Smartphones - The trend towards circular phone designs presents opportunities for brands to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
2. Silent Smartphones - The push towards silent smartphones highlights the desire for more mindful, presence-based experiences that can be marketed to a growing segment of consumers.
3. Mobile Web Apps - The shift towards mobile website use over apps on devices like the Runcible presents opportunities for web developers to create more user-friendly, accessible web apps.
Industry Implications
1. Smartphone Manufacturing - The Runcible represents a potential disruption to the rectangular smartphone market and a shift in consumer preferences for unique designs and experiences.
2. Mobile Software Development - The Runcible's use of the open-source Mozilla Firefox OS and mobile websites presents opportunities for software developers to create more innovative and accessible experiences on non-traditional devices.
3. Consumer Electronics Retail - The emergence of devices like the Runcible and trend towards unique smartphone designs provides opportunities for electronics retailers to offer more diverse product selections and experiences for consumers.