Tears of Nostalgia from Photos on Flip Phones: 'Omoide Keitai Restart' | Release #46
Have you ever used a 'flip phone'?
Flip phones gained popularity in Japan in the late 1990s, reaching their peak in the early 2000s. Until Android smartphones began to spread after 2009, many precious memories were recorded on flip phones. However, due to battery deterioration, it has become difficult to revisit these memories directly. Perhaps some of you have flip phones stored away that you can no longer operate or view.
Restarting Your Memory Phones
The 'Omoide Keitai Restart' project is conducted by KDDI Corporation to restart phones that cannot be powered on or charged due to battery pack over-discharge from long-term neglect, using special equipment.
It supports retrieving and printing precious memory photos that can no longer be viewed. Held nationwide every month, it revives many memory photos stored in phones.
© KDDI Corporation
Event scene
© KDDI Corporation
Event scene
This project has been held over 370 times and experienced by more than 14,000 people. It brings joy to many, with comments like, 'I was happy to see photos and videos I had given up on because the phone wouldn't power on,' 'I was delighted to revive photos and voicemail messages of family members I can no longer meet,' and 'Forgotten memories came back, and I felt motivated to try again.'
The End of Flip Phones with the Termination of 3G Services
Many flip phones use the old 3G network. The 3G service will soon be terminated. au announced it will end 3G services by the end of March 2022, SoftBank by late January 2024, and NTT Docomo by the end of March 2026. This marks the complete end of the flip phone era.
Learning from Past Technologies
The approach of carefully handling and supporting things left behind by technologies that have become part of the past, as seen in this case, is where a company's true value shines. KDDI Corporation's content 'KDDI Tobira' archives the history of mobile phones starting from 1988 as an illustrated book. Visualizing the impact of past technologies on our lives, understanding, and recording their cultural significance amidst the rapid progress of the digital age, will cultivate foresight necessary for engaging with new technologies.
