New e-Paper Portable Display to Grace 3GSM

As an former reporter, working at an actual newspaper, with an actual press, it's my prerogative to look at the dead tree-meets-digital segue technology, electronic paper, and keep an eye on its progress. Readius, one of the lead pack, is about to get its actual product wings at 3GSM in Barcelona next week, in the form of Telecom Italia and Polymer Vision's rollable “Cellular-Book,” which resembles a squashed toilet roll.

While smaller than a typical mobile phone, the new device features a display which extends up to 5-inches and may simply be stored away after use by folding it, thanks to the flexibility of the polymer based display material. The device features the largest display available in the industry for the same form factor, the 16 grey levels combined with a high contrast and high reflectivity display for paper like reading experience enables comfortable reading, even in bright sunlight. Future developments include colour and moving image capable display.

It's valorous of the forms involved to put some weight into making and marketing it, but it's all rather hefty-looking. Ultimately, I don't think the form factor will pay off. Somehow, all that tech's got to get smaller.

Cellular-Book Rollable Display Mobile Device Unveiling at 3GSM [MobileMag]