One of the hippest pieces of technology from Star Trek: The Original Series was the Communicator that landing parties used for voice communication with the Enterprise. It’s been credited for the inspiration behind flip phones in the 1990s and numerous replica toy lines, including one of my favorites, walkie-talkie communicators from Mego.
In time for the Star Trek franchise’s 50th anniversary, The Wand Company has released a fully functional Bluetooth-enabled replica of the iconic device. Because the Bluetooth Communicator’s design is based on 3D scans of an existing “Alpha hero” prop used on the show in the 1960s, it has the same dimensions and looks identical to its on-screen counterpart.
It weighs in at 5oz and is constructed of a combination of metal and ABS plastic. It can be paired with any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and has a wireless range of over 30-feet. Under the hood, the device includes a built-in lithium polymer battery (charged through a micro-USB cable), 36mm speaker (suitable for hands-free calls and listening to music), and a MicroElectrical-Mechanical System (MEMS) microphone.
Trekkers will be happy to hear that the Communicator also incorporates a variety of sound effects and voice clips from the show. For example, incoming calls are announced through the familiar “boop boop” hailing tone. When calls are answered via the classic lid flip, users are greeted by the equally familiar four-pulse audio chirp.
The Communicator checks in at $149.99 USD and comes with foam-lined case, embossed leatherette pouch, and wireless die-cast charging stand.
