If you think you have seen it all in terms of smartphones, think again. LG just launched a new flip phone—its first in seven years. Dubbed the Wine Smart flip phone, this device is targeted at senior and disabled users thanks to two features: one that can communicate the phone’s location to the user’s designated guardian, and a small speaker that amplifies the ringer for the hearing impaired. Wine Smart also comes with a direct push button, which immediately connects to the KakaoTalk messenger app.
Design and Specifications
Wine Smart comes in black and white options and went on sale on September 26 in South Korea, according to International Business Times. The LG Wine Smart measures 118.6 x 59.4 x 16.9 mm and has a single 3.5-inch IPS touchscreen with a 320 by 480 pixel resolution. Its purpose is not to impress tech enthusiasts, but to thrill users who crave a simple smartphone.
Wine is powered by Android 4.4 KitKat and runs on the long-term evolution (LTE) network. It comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera, a VGA camera up front, and a 1700 mAh battery. It has a 1.2 GHz quad-core chipset, 1 GB of RAM, and 4 GB of storage (with support for MicroSD up to 32 GB).
Connectivity features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, and FM radio.
Smart for Seniors and the Disabled
Though it’s physically a flip phone, Wine Smart is a smartphone at heart. Thanks to the “Safe Keeper” feature, it caters to both senior citizens and the disabled. NDTV reports that this feature will automatically send the phone’s location to the user’s guardian in case of an emergency or simply when it is left unused beyond a certain period of time. It also comes with a speaker to make sure the ringer can be heard even when the user is in a loud space or is not by the phone.
The Wine Smart flip phone also has a designated KakaoTalk button, making it easier for users to simply press a button to enjoy the messenger app. The Korea Times reports that KakaoTalk is used by about 50 million people worldwide, 75 percent of which are Koreans.
Overseas Prospects
According to Yonhap News Agency, an official from LG revealed that the company does not plan to include the KakaoTalk button on all its future models, but that LG is “considering” an overseas release of the Wine Smart. However, no details have been offered on international availability.
Would you purchase a smart flip phone?
Image courtesy of Flickr
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