Credit Crunch Christmas: Colombo's Phone from MagicBox

Pocket-lint's Advent calendar of gift ideas: 16 days to go

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10 December 2008 11:44 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Created as a homage to the Sixties Italian designer Joe Colombo (rather than the other Columbo we all know and love) this new landline phone is a retro-styled antidote to your bog standard boring DECT device.

With gorgeous curves and designer looks, users will not have to sacrifice style for functionality, as, unlike real retro models that cost at least twice the price, the phone packs some pretty up-to-date functionality.

There's an on-board answering machine, phonebook for up to 100 contacts, hands-free operation, and a variety of polyphonic ring tones from which to choose.

We think this would make an expensive-looking Christmas present for any stylish hard-to-buy-for people you might have lurking at the bottom of your Christmas list, but at £40 won't damage your budget too much.

And if you're not sure of the design, it's not just us that thinks it's a style icon in the making - the phone has nabbed an iF product design award.

Colombo's Phone from MagicBox is available now in white, or, our favourite shade, a bold and brilliant coral finish.