Pantech has revealed a new phone that could potentially revolutionize cellphone design. The as-yet unnamed maglev phone will use magnetic action to slide out the phone's keypad, replacing the springs found in almost every slider phone today. The advance provides not only a less jarring action but also allows for an ultra-thin design that was previously impossible, Pantech says: the initial model measures only 0.39 inches thick.

The phone would still have room for its own share of multimedia functions, with DMB for mobile TV, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and dedicated music playback. Full details will come with an announcement next month, says Pantech, which anticipates an initial launch in Korea followed by exports to other areas if maglev technology proves popular. [via CrunchGear]