The Xun Chi 138 gets miniaturization all wrong, looking at the process as a kind of shrink ray to be deployed mindlessly on a standard handset. A conceptual design at MobileMag (pictured) gets it right: by pairing down features to match the reduced size, the resulting device exemplifies the idea of design by subtraction.
Concealed in a pen-sized cylinder, a one-line LCD screen flips from the body when needed, giving it the unnerving look of an old-fashioned barber's razor. On the shaft itself lie four buttons, each representing three numerals, in the same manner as the keys on a standard cellphone represent multiple letters. Just punch away, and the phone will make the call when you've entered a legitimate number.
Throw in an MP3 player, MicroSD card slot and a laser pointer, and I think we might have an ecstatic four-page SkyMall spread on our hands.
The simplest of simple: A cell phone with just four buttons [MobileMag]
