It’s just so thin!

Softbank, who have recently taken over the Vodafone business in Japan, are unofficially branding themselves as the ‘thin’ cell phone provider.

In a county where the with mobile phone technology is at the leading edge, Japan has always suffered from the obese phone syndrome - the handsets are so packed with features that they burgeon out in size and weight, barely fitting into your jeans pocket. Until now that is, thanks to the nice people at Softbank.

After chucking out the tired, red, ‘in your face mum!’ image of Vodafone, Softbank have announced the line up of their new ‘sleek’ collection of handsets and I managed to get my hands on one before they hit the shops.

Check out these pictures of the 705P from Panasonic, a phone that is merely 14.8mm thick, a marvel in a country where, from my own official numbers ( sourced from a quick measure of the two other test phones on my desk ) the average phone thickness is more like 25mm. This is truly a step forward!

So to all the Americans and Europeans out there, enjoy this moment, for you now know that with the Razr and Slvr you finally have one up on the Japanese… but, not for much longer.