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New Jersey-based Dieceland Technologies is to launch a disposable paper mobile by the third quarter of 2001.
The phone will be launched initially in the US market, but will subsequently be launched worldwide, according to the phone's inventor, Randi Altschul.
The basic price of the phone will be USD10, although there are six different models, and prices may vary, said Altschul.
The new phone will come with 60 minutes of calling time and a hands-free attachment, according to a report by The Register in the UK.
Although the phone will be called a phone-card-phone, no phone card will be involved. Rather, when users are finished, they can either throw the phone away or charge extra time through their credit card.
The phone will be available through all normal retail channels, said Altschul. It is also expected that the phone will be available through vending machines and through promotions, such as with a Big Mac and fries.
The idea for a disposable phone came to Altschul when she was in her car, she explained. "I was driving in my car and I kept losing the signal on my cell phone."
When a phone does not work, people are less inclined to throw away a phone that costs USD300 than a phone that only costs USD10, said Altschul.
So far, some 100 million phone units have been ordered from Dieceland, including from phone card companies. However, Altschul said that she was not prepared to divulge expected revenues.
Altschul explained that she believed and hoped that she was the first person to think of the idea of a disposable phone.
In addition to the disposable phone, Dieceland is also developing a paper laptop. This is expected to cost about USD20 and to launch by the end of 2002.
"I want to be richer than Bill Gates," said Alstchul. "However, only time will tell whether or not I will be."
Dieceland is at www.dtcproducts.com
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