A smartphone with two screen, one of which is always on, has been unveiled. The Android-powered phone features two screens; one a traditional LCD display and another that uses e-ink technology similar to that found in Amazon’s Kindle eReaders.
The Russian company behind the smartphone, Yota said it would go on sale in Russia, Austria, France, Spain and Germany immediately. It hasn’t said whether or not it plans to bring it to the UK.
Yota said that the smartphone will offer a better battery life than many of its rivals thanks to the use of e-ink.
The smartphone automatically transfers web pages and other applications to the e-ink screen. The e-ink screen can be used to display information that the user doesn’t necessarily want to wake up the phone for.
“The typical user picks up and activates their smartphone more than 150 times a day,” said Yota Devices chief executive Vlad Martynov. “Why? Because users worry that messages or information they need or want are hidden behind their phone’s black screen. This is a huge distraction and can impede meaningful interaction with our friends, families and colleagues.”
Yota is a St Petersberg company that is best known for making modems and router equipment. The dual-screen smartphone is the company’s first venture into the market.