New Cellphone BenQ-Siemens SL98 reverse slider

Just when you thought it would be safe to assume that sliders were yesterday’s news, here comes the new BenQ-Siemens SL98 reverse slider to save the day. Instead of leaving the screen exposed and susceptible to injury via accidental impact or pocket-content abrasion, the SL98 design hides the display. What is exposed is the keypad and a small LCD which could provide incoming call info.

If a bigger reading-surface is needed, all you have to do is… push a button maybe? or flick your wrist? No available literature on this one yet. The concept sure makes for an interesting phone, interesting enough to be copied apparently. Asus and LG have submitted patent applications with similar ideas. Watch this space for more news on this new slider.