20-10-2009: Mobiado pays a tribute to NASA's spacecraft Pioneer 10 with the MobiadoGrand 350 Pioneer, an extremely exclusive mobile phone of which only 37 copies are made and will be sold.
By: Tim Wijkman
Mobiado, manufacturer of very exclusive and extremely expensive mobile phones, has launched the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer today. As a tradition, devices of Mobiado are inspired on space travelling and with the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer they pay a tribute to the 'Pioneer 10 spacecraft' of NASA, which was launched in March 1972. Until February 1998, the Pioneer 10 was the farthest object in space that is made by people. The spacecraft was originally made to explore the outer parts of the solar system.
Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer
Only 37 copies are made of the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer, one for every year since the launch in 1972 until now. The date and time at which the Pioneer 10 was launched is engraved in the phone. At the back of the device, the well-known 'Pioneer Plaque' is displayed. This famous plaque was given to the Pioneer 10 in 1972. It shows details on the origins of the spacecraft and information on human mankind, might the spacecraft be suscepted by extraterrestial life.
What makes the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer special and unique, is the back of the device. The battery panel is made out of a "Gibeon meteorite" that is over 4 billion years old. This meteorite was discovered in Namibia in 1836 and crashed into earth in the same year. The Gibeon meteorite comes from the space between Mars and Jupiter, the regions where Pioneer 10 performed research later. It contained 90 percent iron, 8 percent nickel and traces of phosphor and cobalt.
The unbique so-called "Widmanstatten Figures" tecture at the back of the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer are entirely made out of the meteorite. Because the meteorite arose at a temperature of 1375 degrees celcius, the meteorite was first fluid. Because the meteorite cooled slowly, with several degrees every million years, unique chrystals occurred on the meteorite, which gave it a very unique texture. In order to make a back panel of the meteorite, a specialist has sown the meteorite in pieces, polished it and treated it with acids to make the famous texture come back.
The rest of the device is made out of high-quality and almost indestructible aluminium, which is normally only used in aircrafts due to its production costs. The display of the phone is made out of a massive piece of ruby chrystal and the screws and keys of the device are made out of a combination of sapphire crystal, stainless steel and it is equipped with a layer of gold. Behind the ruby chrystal finish, a 2.36 inch colour display is placed that offers 16 million colours.
Although the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer is more a piece of art and it is mainly about its design, exclusivity and the used materials, the device can come along concerning specs. The device offers quad-band support, due to which the phone can make calls almost everywhere in the world. Furthermore, UMTS / HSDPA support is present due to which internet speeds up to 3.6 Mbit/s is possible.
The phone is also equipped with a full QWERTY keuboard and also offers WiFi to use the internet as well. A GPS receiver and the integrated 3.2 megapixel camera make the story complete.
Because only 37 copies of the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer will be made, the phone will not be available at every corner of the street. Furtehrmore, one will have to pay a large sum of money for this 'Christmas present'. The price of the device will be more like an average house in Europe than like the price of the average car...