The Korean manufacturer KFT Technologies have released what they claim is the world’s slimmest cell phone, the EV-K100; code-named the “No. 7”. Actually, the phone is 7.9 mm thick, which makes it nearer a “No. 8” in my book, but I still want one.

My heart sank when I saw the 400,000 won price tag, but as it happens that turns out to be just over $400 (in real money), so I won’t have to hock the wife’s kidney machine to buy one.

Weighing only 60 g, it’s a fully functional phone with all the extras you would expect such as a 2.3 mega-pixel built-in camera, an MP3 player, and a 1.8” LCD screen.

Some might find the 165 MB of internal storage somewhat limiting, but that’s space enough for 150 songs (unless you’re a Pink Floyd fan). The manufacturers claim that the phone comes with a dictionary of 330,000 words, but they neglect to mention which language(s) they cover – Korean no doubt, because there are no plans to release the phone on the global market at present. This is because the phone is based on a communications technology that isn’t compatible with the GSM standard used throughout Europe and Asia.

Apparently, the limiting component in the manufacture of ultra-thin mobiles is the antenna, which using existing techniques and materials, needs to be around 7 mm thick to capture a reasonable signal. KFT Technologies refused to state the exact thickness of their antenna, but hinted that if you can lengthen the antenna, you can get round these limitations, but I have to say I’m sceptical.

I want one of these phones though! I’ll probably have to learn Korean to operate it, and it won’t work for me here in Europe. None of that matters though because: a) no one ever calls me anyway, and b) everyone in the pub will be jealous, and that’s more important!

More details of the KFT cellphone from the Korea Times