Most if us have ditched our landlines for mobiles by now, but as convenient and as affordable as our BlackBerrys, iPhones and Android handsets might be, they’ll always be a tad too fiddly for a proper extended natter while you’re milling around the house — until now.
The Moshi Moshi 04 (MM04) is a standalone handset that connects to your mobile via Bluetooth. When someone rings, the call is routed through the Native Union device, which is larger, less fiddly and easier to use over long periods than a typical mobile phone. It is, for want of a better expression, a phone for your phone.
We’ve been using an MM04 for a while now and while it’s rather gimmicky, it’s occasionally quite useful. It’s slightly more comfortable to use than most mobiles when making long calls, primarily because it doesn’t emit much heat.
It’s more convenient, too, as you never have to burrow through your pockets or rummage through a desk to find a temporarily misplaced mobile phone. Whenever you’re within about 10 metres, it automatically pairs with your phone.
Native Union claims anyone using an MM04 can reduce their exposure to potentially harmful phone radiation since there’s less need to hold a mobile phone next to your delicate skull. We can’t vouch for this — our Wi-Fi-addled skulls are already damaged beyond repair (twitch, twitch) — but at least it gives us an excuse to chuck away the tinfoil hats.
When it’s not placing or receiving calls, the Moshi Moshi 04 also works as surrogate speakers, playing aloud music stored on your mobile. The audio quality isn’t bad, but it’s not particularly loud, so we’d only recommend it for use in very small rooms.
The Native Union Moshi Moshi 04 is available to buy now for £150.