Tech Trend 247

Millennials raised on Star Trek the Next Generation are convinced that all future space travelers communicate via little Federation badges on their chests. 

They are wrong.

Decades before Captain Picard touched his pin and commanded Number One to "Make it so," Captain James Tiberius Kirk was using a handheld communicator to declare, "Scotty, beam me up."

That device was iconic and awesome, and now I have one in my hands.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the airing of the first-ever Star Trek TV episode, CBS Consumer Products commissioned the creation of a 21st century Star Trek The Original Series Bluetooth Communicator.

To deliver this perfect piece of Star Trek memorabilia, The Wand Company scanned props used in the original 1966-69 Star Trek series. At a glance, it's virtually identical to one of the communicators Shatner and company held on the old CBS show. It features a metal antenna grill, composite body and metal edging.

It's more than just a model, though. The communicator opens with a flick of the wrist and makes the exact same noise that devotees of the original series know and love.

Under that grill is the classic circular moiré screen, which turns slowly during calls, a trio of colored lights and two buttons.

The right-hand button accepts presses and toggles in four directions. Each position plays back a different bit of audio from the original series, including sound effects like the hailing audio and emergency signal, as well as dialogue from Nichelle Nichols as Uhura, George Takei as Sulu and Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Shatner's Kirk is strangely absent.

It's a phone

Underneath all that verisimilitude is a functioning Bluetooth device that connects to your iPhone.

Once paired, you can take and make calls through the communicator. There's no keypad or screen — it is a novelty item, after all — so you have to use hands-free voice dialing. When I pressed the right-hand button once, the communicator's built in voice said "Voice Command." I then heard the familiar Siri double beep. After that, I was talking directly to Siri on my iPhone. To end the call, I just closed the grill after which the communicator said, "communication terminated."

I could also answer calls through the communicator, but, since there's no ear piece and I basically have to hold it in front of my face and talk at it, I tried to avoid using it in public places. It is, though, perfect for open use at a Star Trek Convention.

The Star Trek Communicator can even stream music through its tiny speaker, which is loud enough for desk listening, but that's about it. You adjust volume by pressing up on the right button.

What's in the box

Included with the communicator is a wireless charging base complete with the Federation logo. It's imprinted with the words "U.S.S. Enterprise Standard Issue Communicator." The communicator also ships in a very attractive case and does come with a pleather holder and a micro-USB charging cable. You will pay dearly for all this, though. The Star Trek The Original Series Bluetooth Communicator lists for $149. Scotty, beam me up some extra cash.

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