Cell phones have become a common sight in today's world. Everyone from
the very young to senior citizens use this electronic marvel to
communicate, send text messages, and take pictures.

In 1983, the emergence of a truly portable cell phone cost the consumer $3,500 or the equivalent of $7,538 in 2009 dollars <http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm>
! Today, a cell phone can be free of charge with a the commitment of a
one or two year contract with a wireless cell phone provider.

Cell phones have come a long way since 1983 and the quest for new
innovative designs are a high priority for many cell phone
manufactures. Fujitsu Limited is one of these companies and is
announcing its Fujitsu Mobile Phone Design Award Contest <http://www.designophy.com/calendar/article.php?UIN=1000000084&sec=competition>
. Professionals, amateurs, and students from graphic design schools,
graphic design colleges, or other institutions of learning are eligible
to enter this competition.

Fujitsu is running the event in partnership with the Japan Design Association <http://www.japan-design.or.jp/links_e.html>
, a non-profit organization to "help solve... [21st century societal]
problems with the power of design and to promote the building of a
beautiful and emotionally rich cyclical society."

There are two categories for this contest. The official website states:

cellphoneface

*       Practical Category: Mobile Phones for 2001

A chance to let your dreams blossom - we are looking for inspirational
designs. Winning designs in this category may be commercialized.
Design requirements: the design must show that the mobile phone is
keyboard equipped, operable with one hand, and utilizes an LCD screen
of 3″ or larger.

*       Dream Category: Mobile Phones of the Future

Futuristic mobile phone designs that reflect your free and uninhibited
imagination - we are interested in futuristic designs illustrating
cutting-edge technologies as well as interface designs that open up new
ways of use, which in turn can inspire new design ideas for Fujitsu's
line of mobile phones.

Judging will be conducted by a panel of industry design professionals.
Exceptional submissions will be exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2009 http://www.ceatec.com/2009/pre/en/index.html  this October.

Winners will receive the following cash awards:

Grand Prize: 2,000,000 yen ($20,922)

Two Runner-Up Prizes: 500,000 yen for each category ($5,231)

Special Judges Awards: 100,000 yen each ($1,046)

Honorable Mention: Several awards to be announced

For full details about this contest and submission guidelines, send
your requests to the Fujitsu Mobile Phone Design Award Secretariat here
info@mobile-award.jp.fujitsu.com . For those who can read Japanese, the official website states this information here <http://mobile-award.jp.fujitsu.com/> .

The contest deadline for submissions is September 18, 2009.

18 September 2009