Sharp launches a new tuxedo-wearing smartphone robot
Sharp's latest smartphone is tuxedo-wearing robot that can dance, make calls, send messages and access the Internet. The RoBoHoN includes other features such as voice recognition, a digital assistant, quad core processor and a built in projector. The RoBoHoN is due to launch to consumers in the first half of 2016. Sharp plans﻿ on building up an application platform before the smartphones commercial release next year﻿.

Sharp's newest smartphone does everything consumers would expect, from making calls and sending text messages to accessing email and setting alarms. It also looks - and dances - like a tuxedo-wearing robot.

The RoBoHoN is filled with features including a digital assistant, voice recognition, built-in projector and quad-core processor. At 7.5 inches tall, the walking, talking phone was Sharp's big pitch for attention at the recent CEATEC consumer electronics show in Tokyo. A company commercial shows a man walking down the street with the robot's round head pressed to his ear while he talks into its feet.

Sharp's new RoBoHoN smartphone.

After racking up $US13 billion of losses the past four years, Sharp is trying to find a way back to profitability and relevance in a consumer-electronics industry where its brand has been eclipsed by Apple, Samsung and Sony. That's prompting some left-field thinking.

"Sharp had forgotten about being sharp and acute in its business ideas and consumer demand," said Yoshisuke Hasegawa, senior director at Sharp in charge of electronics business. "We are reviewing how we do consumer electronics and see RoBoHoN as the first product with impact."