Is this the next version of Starfleet's much anticipated and loved communicator? We think it is.  It was apparently lost in a bar on Deep Space Station K7 sometime around Stardate 4523.3 and we got our hands on it.  We don't have tons of details, but here's what we do know.

1. What we thought was a strangely placed button is actually a forward facing camera
2. They've reduced the number of indicator lights to two.  This seems strange and out of place to us.  It's definitely a step backward from Starfleet Engineering's renowned industrial design.
3. The microphone area is quite a bit larger and is made of a slightly different alloy.  We think that the larger microphone will result in a higher resolution sound although the device was not operating when we received it.

We did contact Mr. Lurry, the manager of K7, for comment.  He responded via subspace saying; "with all the problems we've had recently with the Klingons and an outbreak of tribbles on the station, I wouldn't know anything about something as inconsequential as a misplaced communicator."  We thought his response was rather curt.

We also have placed a few communiques to Starfleet Quartermaster's Corp that have gone unanswered.  We've learned more info, check out the update here.