World’s largest cell phone can’t compete with obnoxious callers in Center City

We’d normally forward this off to our pals at Ripley’s Believe it or Not, but the geek deep within our hearts couldn’t pass.

Cricket Wireless and Samsung Electronics are at the Shops at Liberty Place showing off the world’s largest cell phone in a promotional campaign for Cricket, after launching its economical wireless service in Philadelphia earlier this month.

Visitors of the giant, freak-cell phone can actually place calls, although we would have preferred if there was someone hiding inside, pretending to take calls, responding with insults, and staying true to the spirit of this fine city.

If the technology behind the device is proportional to its 195 square-foot mass, we’re expecting it to be just as loud and annoying as any caller on a SEPTA train.

If this isn’t enough for you, you can choose to be ridiculed by the entire YouTube community after singing the promotional Cricket theme on camera or compete in a text messaging battle. There will also be other Cricket mobile phones on display—albeit strangely tiny, pocket-sized ones.

The gargantuan phone will be in the city at 16th and Chestnut until Friday.

Shop Talk: Meir Cohen of TrapCall

Meir Cohen has remained focused on telecommunication technology.

In 2005, he helped found SpoofCard.com, which lets users change their recognized Caller ID numbers and disguise their voices. Soon after, he was part of the launch and development of two other phone-based innovations: LiarCard.com and LoveDetect.com.

“These technologies rely on very powerful and accurate voice analysis technology engines to extract different emotions out of a telephone call and determine if someone is lying to you or how much your spouse loves you,” he said. “I am a 27 year old college educated technology nut. I always loved any new technologies especially if it involved telecom.”

So it should follow that his latest venture hasn’t strayed too far from his love.

Last month, TelTech Systems, the Toms River, N.J.-based company of which he is president and co-founder, launched TrapCall, which, among other features, promises to unmask blocked phone numbers.

More than 200,000 people signed up in the first four weeks, the attention is buzzing and Cohen, who calls it an “honor” to be part of Philly’s growing tech scene, is ready to show what’s behind his most popular product.

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