If you feel nostalgic and misses the days of the rotary dial phone, Sky’s Edge “Rotary Un-Smartphone” is an open-source hardware rotary dial phone controlled by an Arduino board and equipped with a multi-mode 4G/3G/2G module.
It’s a bit more advanced that you old rotary phone with recent cellular technology, ePaper & OLED displays, quick dialing buttons, and the rotary dial can both be used to dial full phone number or quickly access your contact list.
Key features of the Rotary Un-Smartphone:
- MCU board – Arduino board based on AtMega2560 MCU
- Storage – MicroSD card to store contacts list
- Displays – Front-side OLED and back-side ePaper displays
- Cellular Connectivity
- 4G/3G/2G connectivity via u-Blox TOBY-L2 module
- Voice calls and SMS (receive-only) supported
- SIM card slot
- Internal antenna; expansion space for user-supplied external antenna
- Audio
- Microphone and speaker
- 3.5mm TRRS headset jack
- Mechanical ringer bell made from polished brass; externally visible
- Misc – Mechanical power switch, Incandescent-like indicator LEDs, various buttons, physical switch for microphone
- Power Supply – USB-C charging port; USB Micro-B port also available
The project was first showcased as a DIY project with a 3G module last year by Justine Haupt who has founded Sky’s Edge company. Updated photos and resources are not available, but you can see how last’s year model/prototype works, and how to assemble it in the video below.
Eventually links to all resources for the latest version of the Rotary Un-Smartphone will be made available. This includes a user manual, build instructions, updated video and photos, as well as Arduino firmware, KiCad hardware design files, and mechanical STEP files.
It should be noted the rotary dial phone is offered as a kit, and not a final products due to the requirements for EMC compliance and support. Pre-orders are open for the North American version of the phone for $390 with shipping scheduled for Spring 2021. Users in other countries can pre-order a beta version of the phone for $351. You’ll find how to pre-order on the product page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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