Design agency announces round smartphone with wooden housing

The Monohm company has released a circular device that is supposed to function like a smartphone. This Runcible has a round screen on the front and a wooden back with camera. The startling device will be shown during the Mobile World Congress.

In a press release, Monohm says that the Runcible can be pre-ordered. However, the company remains vague about the release date and the price: the device will be delivered ‘late’ in 2015 for a price comparable to a high-end smartphone. Interested parties can register for a preorder on the Monohm website.

Monohm has built a screen into the front of the Runcible. It is a round screen, but the precise specifications such as the panel technology used and the resolution are still unclear. No information has been released about internal parts such as the soc or ram either. The company does state that the software is based on Firefox OS and the device can be easily repaired by replacing parts.

The Runcible will be shown to the public during the Mobile World Congress that kicks off this week in Barcelona. The company may also release more information about the specifications of the device. Monohm has already made it clear that it wants to work with the telecom provider KDDI in Japan, but it is not known whether there are also plans for a European release.