We've heard this before, but there's a new cell phone watch on the way and technoblog pundits are once again hoping this will be the one that goes mainstream.

The LG Watch Phone rolls out in the UK next month, but with a $1,600 price tag is likely to remain out of reach of the masses. However, we are at least seeing the physical design of watch-phones moving towards something more mainstream and less like something designed purely to cater to technogeeks. But 1,000 British pounds? Come on!

We hope that Apple will eventually imbue their iPod Nano with phone capabilities and shrink it small enough to fit on a wrist, with watch straps designed to be removable; the aftermarket companies could then sweep in with swappable straps, ranging from washable elastic for sweaty gym rats to overpriced leather for see-and-be-seen-ers. One problem will be the earphones--should they be wireless, or will designers find an acceptable way to run a cable up your arm?

A small, wristwatch iPhone would of course have reduced internet functionality--no one wants to read e-mail through something the size of a postage stamp--but for those who only want to talk and listen to music, perhaps they could open up a new, and hopefully lower-priced, category. For those that want full-blown big-ass internet, perhaps Apple's allegedly forthcoming tablet would fit the bill.

Anyways, yeah, iPhone wristwatch, we want one. Any of you Coroflotters care to work up some sketches? Produce something good, and we just might slap you all over our front page!

via t3