時事通信社
経営再建中のシャープは4月14日、ロボット型のスマートフォン「RoBoHoN（ロボホン）」を5月26日から販売すると発表した。TBSによると、台湾メーカー鴻海（ホンハイ）の傘下入り決定後、初めて発表した商品となる。ネット上では「画期的な商品」と評価する声がある一方、「目の付け所がシャープ過ぎて斜め上」といった当惑の声も広がっている。
シャープの公式サイトによると、ロボホンは世界初の「モバイル型ロボット電話」で、身長約19.5cm、体重約390g。持ち運びでき、電話やメール、カメラなど携帯電話の基本機能のほか、動画などを投影できるプロジェクターも搭載している。また、二足歩行が可能で身振り手振りを交えて会話もできる。例えば「おはよう」と話しかけると、天気やスケジュールを教えてくれる。
▼関連スライドショー（写真をクリック）▼
RoBoHoN（ロボホン）画像集
JAPAN CEATEC 2015(01 of09)
epa04966722 A model shows makes a call with robot RoBoHoN by Sharp at Japan\'s leading consumer electronics trade show Ceatec 2015 in Chiba, near Tokyo, Japan, 07 October 2015. RoBoHoN can speak and make calls, but also take photos and videos and play with a built-in mini projector. In addition, he can run, sit, stand, and dance. EPA/CHRISTOF DERNBACH (credit:EPA＝時事)
JAPAN-ELECTRONICS-SHARP(02 of09)
Japan\'s electronics giant Sharp unveils the humanoid robot shaped smartphone \'Robohon\' at a preview of Asia\'s largest electronics trade show Ceatec in Chiba on October 6, 2015. The Robohon, designed by Japan\'s famous robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi, can walk, speak, dance and make phone calls, will go on sale early next year. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ELECTRONICS-SHARP(03 of09)
Japan\'s electronics giant Sharp unveils the humanoid robot shaped smartphone \'Robohon\' at a preview of Asia\'s largest electronics trade show Ceatec in Chiba on October 6, 2015. The Robohon, designed by Japan\'s famous robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi, can walk, speak, dance and make phone calls, will go on sale early next year. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ELECTRONICS-SHARP(04 of09)
Japan\'s electronics giant Sharp unveils the humanoid robot shaped smartphone \'Robohon\' at a preview of Asia\'s largest electronics trade show Ceatec in Chiba on October 6, 2015. The Robohon, designed by Japan\'s famous robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi, can walk, speak, dance and make phone calls, will go on sale early next year. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
Robotics On Show At The International Robot Exhibition(05 of09)
Hiroshi Ishiguro, professor of robotics at Osaka University, left, and Tomotaka Takahashi, president of Robo Garage Co., look at the Sharp Corp. Robohon smartphone at the International Robot Exhibition 2015 in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. The expo runs through Dec. 5 under the motto\'making a future with robots.\' Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ELECTRONICS-SHARP(06 of09)
Japan\'s electronics giant Sharp unveils the humanoid robot shaped smartphone \'Robohon\' at a preview of Asia\'s largest electronics trade show Ceatec in Chiba on October 6, 2015. The Robohon, designed by Japan\'s famous robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi, can walk, speak, dance and make phone calls, will go on sale early next year. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ELECTRONICS-SHARP(07 of09)
Japan\'s electronics giant Sharp unveils the humanoid robot shaped smartphone \'Robohon\' at a preview of Asia\'s largest electronics trade show Ceatec in Chiba on October 6, 2015. The Robohon, designed by Japan\'s famous robot creator Tomotaka Takahashi, can walk, speak, dance and make phone calls, will go on sale early next year. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
Latest Products At The CEATEC Electronics Show(08 of09)
An employee demonstrates a Sharp Corp. Robohon smartphone at the Cutting-Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition (CEATEC) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015. The show runs through Oct. 10. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Latest Products At The CEATEC Electronics Show(09 of09)
A Sharp Corp. Robohon smartphone stands on display at the Cutting-Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition (CEATEC) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015. The show runs through Oct. 10. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
■ネットの声は？
ロボホンの発売が発表されると、Twitter上では「かわいい」「画期的な商品」と評価する声がある一方、「目の付け所がシャープ過ぎて斜め上」など当惑する声も出ている。
19万8000円（税別）と高い価格設定については、シャープ公式Twitterも以下のように投稿している。
シャープは公式サイト上で「『ロボホン』を携帯情報通信端末の新コンセプトとして、積極的に提案して参ります」と今後の意気込みをコメントしている。