Sony
CM-R111

The Sony CM-R111 was a unique design that saw the Japanese phone maker achieve further levels of miniaturisation. Released in 1993 it featured a distinctive flip-down spring-loaded stick microphone that was released with the push of a button. Sony claimed this provided a comfortable distance between ear and mouth which enabled it to reduce the overall size of the phone. Notably, it had no display but used a sequence of audible beeps and three LEDs to indicate the phone's status. It included a last-number re-dial function and speed dialling for up to 9 numbers stored in memory. A simple call timer could also be invoked in which a beep would sound every minute during a call. It could be used on analogue ETACS networks. Interestingly, the Sony CM-R111 came with two antenna options, one short "stub" antenna as shown in the Mobile Phone Museum's device and also a longer retractable antenna which would double in length when extended. Some information courtesy of Nigel Linge & Andy Sutton, the authors of 30 Years of Mobile Phones in the UK (Paid Link)