oh kewl! Sliding-clamshell mobile !

(source: Mobiledia - Samsung invents sliding-clamshell design)

According to Samsung's patent application, clamshell phones have an advantage in portability due to their compact size; however the screen is typically very small. By contrast, sliding phones have large screens, but are often large. Additionally, LCDs on sliders are typically exposed without a protective cover, making them more susceptible to damage. Samsung's sliding-clamshell invention attempts to solve these problems by having a large, protected display while keeping a compact size.

The sliding-clamshell is similar in compactness to typical folding phones, with the addition of a transparent window protecting the screen beneath.

Opening the device, the soft external cover unfolds to become a track for the body, with a corrugated hinge linking the track in place. Sliding the body upwards, the phone unveils two keypad sections, reminiscent in layout to Nokia's 6800-series clamshells. Allowing consumers to use both hands in a horizontal view, the design is ideal for mobile gaming.