The eponymous OwnFone launched in Europe more than two years ago, but the startup has loftier ambitions for its second generation model. The Mark 2 OwnFone, now up for backing on Kickstarter, stands out in a panoply of loftily conceived crowdfunding projects for its comparatively grounded conceit: a stripped-down, partially 3D-printed phone. The device is, given the constraints of 3D printers, necessarily simple – the OwnFone lacks a screen, text, and internet – but it delivers on the core promise. OwnFone says the Mark 2 works on 2G networks in the United States and Europe, and is nearly endlessly customizable.
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Each Mark 2 phone begins with what OwnFone calls a “Seed.” Seeds contain the electronics required to place calls: radios, 2 – 12 primary buttons, and a battery. The simplest model requires only a 2D, inkjet-printed front and back skin and optional 3D protective shell, while the Development Kit extends personalization even further. With an off-the-shelf 3D printer, you can print Seed bodies from specialist filaments, such as wood or glow-in-the-dark.
Not everyone owns a 3D printer, of course. For those backers, OwnFone will happily customize a model to spec through its FoneBuilder application. Custom-printed Mark 2 phones will retain, like their predecessors, add-ons for Braille and raised text.
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Mark 2 pricing on Kickstarter starts at a reasonable $100. Additions like a bio-friendly case will add $20, while the 2D PrintFone and 3D PrintFone start at $150 and $180, respectively. Every model is SIM-swappable, and should the Kickstarter meet its $200,000 goal in 11 days, OwnFone plans to begin shipping to backers in July.
