Clamshell phone
Clamshell phone is a commonly used term for cell phones in which the display is folded onto the keyboard , similar to a notebook . With this construction ( clamshell , English for clamshell ), a comparatively large display can be accommodated in a very space-saving manner. Modern devices usually have a second external display that informs the user about the most important information such as incoming calls and SMS or the charge level of the battery . Another advantage of the flip phones is the excellent protection of the display, the security against accidentally pressing the buttons and the easy call acceptance by opening the phone. A disadvantage of the design, however, is that flip phones are often thicker than traditional " latch " phones .
Cell phones with flip displays were launched by Motorola in the mid-1990s with the StarTAC device . However, the first models could not establish themselves, also because of the initially not very reliable electrical connection between the base body and the flap. In Japan, however, the design with the folding display later met with great acceptance, especially for the i-mode mobile data service, which is very popular there .
If one only looks at cell phones with classic button operation, flip cell phones dominate the market in Asia and the USA today. In Europe, on the other hand, most cell phones with key operation are sold in the so-called latch format, even if flip cell phones are still offered here alongside a third design, the sliding cell phone (" slider ").
All of these classic designs have been replaced by cell phones with touchscreens , which take up the least amount of space because the display is also the control panel.
