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Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

BALMUDA Inc. is a fast-growing Japan-based company that offers stylish home appliances designed to offer not only convenience, but also, in the words of BALMUDA CEO and Chief Designer Gen Terao, “thrilling and wonderful experiences.” Products such as “BALMUDA The GreenFan,” an electric fan that simulates natural breezes, and “BALMUDA The Toaster,” a toaster equipped with steam technology and temperature controls, have attracted a devoted following in Japan. The company has also expanded into South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Germany.

Against this backdrop, many anticipated what kind of smartphone BALMUDA would offer after it first revealed it would enter the market in May 2021.

The wait came to an end on November 16, 2021 when BALMUDA held a press conference to unveil “BALMUDA Phone,” a 5G smartphone exclusive to SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) among carriers in Japan.

Designed to perfectly fit into the palm of a human hand

Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

Terao explained he had two main motivations for entering the smartphone market. “First, all smartphones are now starting to look the same. Second, smartphone screen sizes have really increased in size over the past few years,” he said.

When smartphones first came onto the market, the average screen was about 3 inches, but the average has since grown to about 6 inches. By contrast, the BALMUDA Phone sports a compact design of 4.9 inches that fits snugly into the palm of a user’s hand.

BALMUDA Phone is available in two color variations: black and white

BALMUDA Phone is available in two color variations: black and white

The ergonomic design was arrived at after a trial-and-error process that progressed in 0.1-inch increments between 4.5 to 5.5 inches to find a shape that would fit comfortably in a human hand. The BALMUDA Phone is also a rounded device—in addition to its rear curvature, the front is also shaped as a gentle arc, making it unique among 5G smartphones on the market.

Unique basic apps deliver a new smartphone experience

Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

BALMUDA Phone’s unique design goes beyond the form factor. The company developed a suite of home screen apps that includes a scheduler, which can seamlessly expand and contract from a day to a year, and a calculator that calculates exchange rates at current rates.

Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

The camera app can be used to take photos in a number of different modes such as cooking mode to capture sizzle and steam, as well as night scene mode and portrait mode.

Exclusive to SoftBank Corp. Among Carriers in Japan, BALMUDA Unveils its First Smartphone

The home screen is also designed to let users express their individuality. They can customize background colors and personal stripes, and even add their signature. Users can also compose their own alarm sounds and ring tones from scratch.

Created with the utmost care and attention to detail, BALMUDA Phone will be available in Japan from November 26, 2021. Among the carriers in Japan, the smartphone will be exclusively available from SoftBank.

SoftBank Corp. Senior Vice President Keigo Sugano, who joined Terao on stage, said, “We’re very pleased to be the only carrier to offer BALMUDA Phone. This is the first step for us on a long journey together.”

(Posted on November 24, 2021)
by SoftBank News Editors