Ericsson’s in-house design team, led by Sweden-based internal industrial design head Tom Waldner, has created what it claims is the first mobile phone featuring “Internet time” – a concept created by watch manufacturer Swatch.
Waldner says the new Ericsson T20 is “sensuous, shapely and inspired by muscular forms”. “It says ‘pick me up'”, he adds. The mobile phone, which will be available in November, is also Wap-enabled and features an Internet real-time chatroom facility.
The T20 is available in bright, contrasting colours and is adapted for personalisation, says Ericsson UK marketing director Alex Rodrigues. “We have the youth market in mind – personal expression, communication, music, fashion and the Internet are all integral parts of young people’s lives and the T20 encapsulates these elements,” he adds.
Internet Time dispenses with time zones and is based around the 24-hour clock divided into 1000 “beats”. It is identified visually by the @ symbol; for example, an “Internet time” day begins at @000 and ends at @999.
Swatch has also created a new meridian in Biel, Switzerland, the home of Swatch. Biel Mean Time is Internet time’s universal reference: midnight in Biel is actually @000 Internet time.
The idea behind the Internet time concept is to complement GMT, making it easier for the global community to synchronise itself, according to an Ericsson spokeswoman. Users can also display both traditional or Internet time on their phones.
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