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Ask and thou shall receive

Have you ever hinted heavily and gotten exactly what you asked for? Try it, it works.
By Bhavna Singh
Johannesburg, 20 Jun 2006

While ranting last week, I hinted (okay, I shamelessly asked) to be saved from the pool of ill-fitting smartphones. The colossal things are not so smart, I think, since they can`t fold like a pretzel and be accommodated in skinny jeans.

Qtek to the rescue! I`m now drowning in the delights of a slim, smart, built-for-a-woman phone (albeit a test model because the ship hasn`t arrived on our shores yet). The Qtec 8500 has all the functionality of its K-Jam and iMate cousins with none of the bulk.

Finally, a purely "for women" gadget that can be used in public without raising eyebrows. Its stylish body was built to be held in gentle hands and cradled in pockets and handbags.

Flat as a Razr (ironic isn`t it?), and shield-shaped, it comes in black and pink too (annoying trend this is turning out to be).

In this age of emancipated women, no heavy-handed, rough, callused male hand shall have access to the gorgeous thing; they will have to stick to their rectangular bricks.

Bhavna Singh, junior journalist, ITWeb

A little bird told me this new Western European phone has fantabulous spokeswomen like Claudia Schiffer, and that in about a month`s time, the little wonder will be marketed exclusively to the beautiful women of SA.

Ooooo... designer, model-endorsed gadgetry... kudos to the marketing people.

But really, in this age of emancipated women, no heavy-handed, rough, callused male hand shall have access to the gorgeous thing; they will have to stick to their rectangular bricks.

No stylus to lose, no racing games, only Windows 5 for mobile and TV streaming for salon hair-dying sessions so you`re not forced to watch the rugby.

Step aside, Prince Charming

The test model has shamelessly charmed me into anticipating its imminent release.

I can see it now: I slip my phone out of my pocket and check my makeup on the reflective front screen, while it plays me a personal soundtrack. I flip it open and its crystal clear display offers me a quick e-mail check so I can pretend to be working. I bash out a few words for my next column while waiting for the coffee machine to catch up.

Coffee aromas fill the air and I save my select words, which will be reactivated later when I sync to my laptop.

I snap it shut just as it rings, revealing a picture of Mum on the front display. I one-touch her to speaker phone and tell her how difficult it is being a journo living off coffee and testing new technology.

Shhh, she says, there are worse things in life than testing a phone that will someday make you that coffee.

Bhavna Singh has done away with the teeny handbag; her smartphone and lip-gloss now fit in the same pocket.

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