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Consumer Electronics

Punkt's Retro-Function MP 01 Cell Phone

It does just two things in just two colors

By Rain Noe - April 4, 2016

Your American correspondent noticed something astonishing in Nuremberg. Each night after Holz-Handwerk I'd repair to a local café or restaurant, all of which were crowded at that hour. Among all of the patrons, not a single one was staring into their phone or photographing their food. They were all actually talking to each other and eating the food, and if they had smartphones, they remained out of sight.

This is a breath of fresh air to someone who lives in a city (New York) where you must now dodge sleepwalking phone-starers on the sidewalk. It's enough to make me want to ditch my smartphone and pick up one of Punkt's MP 01 Mobile Phones.

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The MP 01, designed by Jasper Morrison, does just two things, and in just two colors (black and white): Phone calls and text messages. There's no camera, no Twitter, no Facebook, no apps. And there are nice-looking round buttons that you must physically press. "Technology is a very powerful tool, but as our lives become increasingly complicated, it's important to find time to disconnect and rediscover the simple things," says Punkt CEO/Founder Petter Neby. "We're very excited about launching the MP 01, a liberating device that removes unnecessary distractions and goes back to the essentials of communication."

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Demand has been strong enough that all pre-orders for the MP 01 sold out, and the company is now catching up, saying current availability is "good."

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The company notes that this phone is not meant to replace the smartphone, but to be used in conjunction with one, "to allow users some time off from the flurry of updates and notifications that so often shape our lives." I could swallow the $295 asking price, but signing up for a 2G contract with T-Mobile while continuing to pay my existing smartphone bill is the stumbling block for me. I guess I've got to face the facts that the genie is out of the bottle, and there's no going back.

Consumer Electronics

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

13 Comments

Kostas Syrtariotis

3 years ago

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the market is full of simple devices like that with an average price of €30, I can't see why I have to pay ten times much just for Jasper's signature... sorry!

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- Mr. Santos
  
  Kostas Syrtariotis
  
  3 years ago
  
  Z
  
  1Z
  
  Reply
  
  I agree. It's so pretentious and obnoxious; to think that I'd spend that much money JUST because it's designed by Jasper; when a lot of cheaper phones already exist that look almost exactly like his designed by faceless/nameless underpaid industrial designers. I love good design, but at the same time, I abhor unnecessary waste. I ain't no label whore.
  
  Reminds me of a good friend of mine when I lived in Miami Beach in the 90s; who was so thrilled to have spent his week's waiter salary on a D&G cotton t-shirt that cost over 300 bucks; just because it was "designer"; meanwhile living way beyond his means. If you can afford Jasper's phone and you make great money, then by all means, get it. I have nothing against rich folks. But there is nothing innovative or different about this phone.
  
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David Phuah

3 years ago

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Surely we are getting "punkt"?!!
If not I feel sad that people can be convinced to pay $300 to get another phone so they have the PRIVILEGE not to use the web... Mind you they still want to be able to text and call people.. maybe they should learn to turn off mobile data? Or the phone even!?

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George Mokray

3 years ago

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1Z

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Just bought a TracPhone for about $5 and it doesn't have a camera either. Can text and access the Web though.

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Austen Myers

3 years ago

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There is this novel function on any smartphone called turn off notifications that does the exact same thing without having to carry two devices.

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Hrag Chanchanian

3 years ago

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Personally, I'm liking the Light Phone. Price point is better, design is better, tacks on to your already existing plan. www.thelightphone.com

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Anna Willoughby

3 years ago

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Luddite.

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Maria Sudermann

3 years ago

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This looks very similar to what in Germany is called "Seniorenhandy" - a cell phone for seniors, with big buttons, high-contrast two-colour display and really loud ringtones without any functions of a smartphone. They cost usually around 30€ and are a blessing for grandmas and grandpas who want to stay in touch or those who just need a phone without all the whistles.

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Matt Bowman

3 years ago

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I like the idea as a whole, but I think if I was going to ditch the 'smartness' (especially part time) I would go back to the classic Nokia 3310. Those old phones do everything this one can, fair enough with an outdated look, but you could play snake on it...

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Majid Al Qassimi

3 years ago

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Germany, not surprised about the lack of phones. Rain, it's so good to see you picking up products like this. There is a reality check here. And it's captured in a product people want. Keep up the awesome work. Loving all your output!!!!!

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Eric Strebel

3 years ago

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WHY? what's the point, does it have a 30 day battery life or something???? 2G? why would I want a second device that does the same thing my first one does unless it has a compelling feature? Plus it looks like a remote, it's not as if it is made of a material I can't get my current cell phone in. Who writes a design brief for a product like this?? who puts up the money for something like this? absolutely baffling!

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- Rain Noe
  
  Eric Strebel
  
  3 years ago
  
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  Eric, we live in a world where people in developed nations take photographs of food before they eat it, walk around recording themselves with cameras on the end of sticks, decide whom to sleep with by swiping their finger to one side or the other--and this is what shocks you?
  
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  - Eric Strebel
    
    Rain Noe
    
    3 years ago
    
    Z
    
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    I have posted this before, you are quite funny, LOL I get your point. Still, The phone holds no value, at least for me anyway. Seriously though, who photographs their food anyway?? OH, yeah! people that don't know how to date! Perhaps this phone could be a therapy device for them??
    
    FYI, there is a bug in the reply comment system. If you hit the photo icon and then don't add a photo, you are stuck in an infinite "77" logo rendering.
    
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