New Cell Phone Concepts From Fujitsu, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI Emerge at Ceatec Japanese Expo

The U.S. is often trying to catch up with Japanese innovation from months or even years ago. In specific, U.S. handset manufacturers can always learn a thing or two about cell phone innovation by looking at what the Japanese have coming down the pike.

A wide array of forward-thinking cell phone concepts were recently on display at a Japanese expo called Ceatec. CNET says the “best designed and most advanced cell phone concepts” were on display there “where mobile-phone culture is, for many, central to daily life”.

Fujitsu, NTT DoCoMo and KDDI all used the show as a prime opportunity to showcase their most advanced cell phone thinking.

In 2008 at Ceatec, we see a Fujitsu handset with a screen and a keyboard that comes apart and is intended to be used separately. We also see a device from KDDI called the Ply that conceptualizes the handset as a device with various layers.

KDDI also worked with Yamaha on an interesting handset that’s to be used as a musical instrument. Even more, KDDI has a phone concept that looks like a box and allows you to “play” it.

Another device looks like a three-blade fan, another one looks like a piano, KDDI has a solar-powered phone concept and Fujitsu makes a cell phone look like jewelry.

Finally, NTT DoCoMo’s Sound Leaf is a “cell phone accessory that uses bone conduction so those who have hearing deficiencies or are in loud environments can hear cell phone conversations more clearly”. See the full CNET image gallery.