Smartphone made from bamboo to launch in UK this year

 

The ADzero, a mobile prototype running Android Ice Cream Sandwich, was designed by a student at Middlesex University.

An aspiring British designer has built the world’s first bamboo smartphone. The ADzero, created by Kieron-Scott Woodhouse, a student at Middlesex University, will be launched in the UK in 2012.

Woodhouse developed the handset, encased in four-year-old organic bamboo, in his spare time and got financial backing from an entrepreneur after posting his concept online. The phone itself runs on Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Google’s Android mobile operating system.

Originally intended for the Chinese market, the ADzero is now set for a UK release this year, having attracted lots of attention during London Design Week in September 2011.

“I can’t wait to see my mobile phone in shops. The whole experience so far has been incredible and completely unexpected. It’s a great start to my career,” said Woodhouse.

He added: “Bamboo may seem like a strange material to use for a phone, but it’s actually extremely strong and very durable - perfect qualities for this kind of application.”

As well as its innovative outer skin, the ADzero features technology called a “ring flash” not currently available on any other smartphone. It’s basically a circular flash around the camera’s lens that allows more even illumination and helps minimise shadowing.

The device is approximately half the weight of an iPhone, but has a larger touchscreen display.

Woodhouse has formed a company called AD, along with an operational director and a hardware engineer. The firm says it will target “design aware” retailers and boutiques when the ADzero is ready for release later this year.

Photo by Mdx news photos

Related articles

• UK leads in smartphone ownership
• Apple chief Tim Cook hints at “amazing” new products
• ZTE launches first Windows Phone device in UK