Phobile

Forget international roaming and WAP capability, phones were far more entertaining in the good old days. Unwieldy hunks of plastic with clunking great dials, shrieking bells, pulse dialling and, best of all, chunky handsets. You remember; the hefty dumbbell-like things that you could barely balance between shoulder and ear. Needless to say there's no place for such impractical appendages on today's slimline mobiles. Or is there?

Because despite a relentless stream of mobile telephonic innovation, talking on the phone just isn't as satisfying as it used to be. For starters you can't slam a mobile down in disgust, chuck the receiver skywards in delight, or re-enact your favourite 'This is the Sweeney, sunshine, and we're comin' ta get ya!' TV moment.

Fortunately, all that's about to change thanks to the technologically advanced but hilariously retro Phobile handset. Simply plug this highly evocative hunk of shiny retro-ironic plastic into your mobile via an adapter and you'll be the envy/laughing stock of all those who encounter you.



The daft but desirable Phobile is a replica of the fabulously ungainly handsets that once dominated the world of home telephony. It's even got an old-style curly wurly cable.

To be fair, attaching an old-school handset to a modern mobile is a bit like tying a typewriter to a laptop. But that's exactly why we love it. It doesn't make sense, but it's guaranteed to get a laugh and attract attention wherever you may roam. Imagine the look on people's faces when your mobile rings and you pull this whacking great relic out of your pocket. There's something unfathomably satisfying about talking on the Phobile. Maybe it's the incongruous juxtaposition of old and new; maybe it's the thrill of talking into an ergonomically ancient design classic; or maybe it's just the fact that it makes you look faintly ridiculous. Who cares? Just enjoy the irony and buy one!

Phobile handsets are new production, exact replicas of the Western Electric 500-series models. These were made in the U.S. starting in 1949 and ultimately became the standard handset for American rotary phones. These high quality reproductions have a superior sound quality to the original handsets.