They created a “dumb” pager that does not send messages – only emojis (video)

The device supports more than 1400 emojis that can be sent in private messages or in group chats with up to p' seven faces.

Sega is reimagining the pager for the emoji age. Japanese video game company announced “Emojam” — a tiny portable Wi-Fi-enabled gadget that can share data with five emojis at once. About it writes Fast Company.

These aren't your standard Unicode Consortium-approved emojis, but custom emojis of cats, rabbits, robots, bots, and other creatures with tons of facial expressions. The emoji lab feature allows users to combine two emojis into one.

The Emojam is controlled like a Tamagotchi, and with three buttons on the front, it's the latest in a trend of retro technology whose usefulness is deliberately limited. The rise of so-called “dumb phones” that do little more than send texts and make calls suggests that adults are tired of their unlimited screen time, and that there's an under-explored market for kids' tech that parents can trust their kids with .

In promotional materials, Sega positions Emojam as fun and safe. Devices must be physically connected before users can start a chat, a security feature prevents unknown strangers from sending messages, and an emoji-only chat limits malicious or offensive content that could be more easily shared on other standard messaging platforms.

Emojim will go on sale in Japan on December 10 for ¥7,150, or about $46. Sega of America did not respond to a request for comment, but if the toy proves successful in Japan, there may be a market for this toy or something similar in the US and beyond.