$200 Watch-Phone Is a Fun, Affordable Accessory

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LAS VEGAS — How does $200 sound for an unlocked phone? Now make it a Dick Tracy-style watch phone and it’s an accessory you just might put on your wish list.

The W “phonewatch” from Kempler & Strauss combines a touchscreen interface with basic phone functionality so you can use the device while biking or hiking.

The GSM phone can work with both AT&T and T-Mobile but it doesn’t have 3G capability or Wi-Fi. Just open the back and pop in a SIM card there to get started. There is a microphone and a speaker on the device, but the company recommends that the phone be paired with a Bluetooth headset.

The watch phone isn’t intended as a replacement for your iPhone, Droid or your BlackBerry, says the company. Instead it has been created as a companion.

The watch-phone idea isn’t new. Last year, LG’s watch phone was a surprise hit at the Consumer Electronics Show. LG showed a slim watch with a touchscreen phone, camera, 3G and Bluetooth capability. Worn on the wrist, it looks like an ordinary watch displaying the time but when a call comes in, the screen changes. Raise your hand a little closer to your mouth, press a button and you can talk into the watch. That device never made it to the United States, though it eventually went on sale in Europe for around $1,500.

The W phonewatch works similarly. It has a digital clock but a single touch pulls up a basic menu that includes icons for phone, messages, address book and calendar. The device even has a 1.4-megapixel camera that can do both still photos and videos. To answer calls, just turn on your Bluetooth headset.


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