O2's New Mobile 'Nail' Lets You Talk to the Hand

'Talk to the hand' was a popular diss in the '90s, but it could soon be a reality as O2 reveals its first-ever wearable tech nail that doubles up as a phone.

A collaboration with inventor Sean Miles and beauty brand Nails inc, the 'mobile nails' combine intricately designed nails and accompanying jewellery with technology embedded within, creating a removable “handset” that you can talk into by raising your finger to your face (an action the brand has dubbed - wait for it - a 'Cuti-Call'). 

The prototype coincides with findings released today from O2’s Future of Mobile Life Report, revealing how mobile technology in and on the human body will shape the way customers will interact with each other in the decades to come. The report was written with the help of expert futurologist Dr Pearson, who predicts that advances in embeddable and wearable technology have the potential for the human body to replace smartphones by 2049. 

Despite negative portrayals in sci-fi films, 56% of the population are excited about augmenting and adapting our bodies, revealing that they would be happy to consider implants for practical purposes such as monitoring health (41%) and unlocking doors (23%). 

Mobile nails might be the first step towards cosmetic augmentation, but the future of tech holds even more for the development of mobile, according to Dr Pearson, who predicts that by 2049 we could see such innovations are semi-permanent augmented reality visors worn to change day to day public interactions and share common interests between passers-by; AI analysis of a love interest to read and explain their reactions almost instantly; and health sensors fitted below the skin for medical and fitness purposes.

“The way our customers interact with one another will change drastically in the next thirty years and as a brand we’ll need to adapt to this," says Nina Bibby, O2's chief marketing officer. "We are always looking ahead to the next developments in mobile and to be able to bridge the gap between fashion and tech is a really exciting challenge. People have been customising mobile phones for years but this is the next step towards tech becoming part of how we decorate our bodies.” 

The Mobile Nails can be modified with different nail art designs, with a range of manicures exclusively designed by Nails inc to complement the look on the rest of the hand. If you're an O2 customer and fancy trying the tech out for yourself, get down to the Nails inc nail bar in London department store Harvey Nichols this week, where you'll be able to take a call with the modified nail.