Hello Kitty flip phone

Tired of the battle between iOS and Android? Time to get a Hello Kitty flip phone!

2016 is shaping up to be a pretty good year technology-wise, though apparently no one told Ola Inc that we’re already in the second decade of the 21st century. The Japanese company recently announced the upcoming release of a new communication device: A Hello Kitty flip phone.

That’s right, a flip phone in 2016!

Now, to be fair, there are still plenty of people using flip phones in Japan and everywhere else in the world. In fact, “dumb phones” and “feature phones” still have a pretty significant market share. And in Japan, feature phones (called "garake," a shortened version of Galapagos cell phones, in Japan) are still a common sight.

So, while it might seem odd to an Internet-addict like myself, there’s almost definitely a market for this adorable Hello Kitty flip phone.

In fact, I kind of want one just to put on my shelf, so it wouldn’t be surprising if people didn’t buy a Hello Kitty phone for its “figurine” status and never actually use it! Though if you do that, you’ll never get to see the phone’s “cute software,” as the Ola Inc describes it.

If you do get a Hello Kitty FIGURINE KT-01, you’ll be able to make phone calls, send SMS messages, store contact information, and…that’s about the extent of the feature’s listed. It also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a micro USB slot and will also be capable of VoIP in case you don’t have a SIM card for it.

And, since it only has a 1.54-inch screen, we’re guessing the battery won’t die after half a day’s use like most smartphones. We can see this being an excellent “first phone” for a youngster…or any of your friends/grandparents who like to complain about how technology is ruining everything.

The Hello Kitty phone will be available for 12,000 yen in April and Ola is accepting pre-orders now.

Sources: Ola Inc, Nari Nari

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