 "Fashion Houses Go Mobile")
Here’s my question to you, dear reader: do you think it’s a bit ridiculous the way every industry seems to want to cash in on the mobile phone market? Vehicle manufactures have already gotten a taste of this market with handsets like the Porsche P9521 or the Hummer mobile by Fly. Even watchmakers are getting a piece of the action – witness Tag Heuer’s Meridiist. What could be next? Oh yes, the fashion industry… how could I forget?
Fashion phones are nothing new, but I’m not referring to those mobiles manufactured by companies like Nokia or Sony Ericsson that simply look flashy and stylish, I’m talking about actual Fashion Houses launching mobiles with their personal brand. So here are some of the big names in fashion that have launched their own brands of fashion-centric mobile handsets.
LG KE850 Prada
The LG Prada could have been considered an iKiller, but it doesn’t really have too many exceptional features that make it stand out as a sincere contender. The 3-inch touchscreen display has a 240 x 400 pixel resolution and 256K colors. It doesn’t support 3G or have Wi-Fi, but it does support Bluetooth with an A2DP profile, USB connectivity (v2.0) and WAP/GPRS/EDGE.
The Prada comes equipped with a 2 megapixel camera with flash and offers video recording too. Other features include external memory support via microSD, and a media player for audio and video content. There’s an integrated FM radio. An MS document viewer allows you to download and read .TXT, .DOC, .XLS, .PDF and .PPT files. The Prada also has a few preloaded games for entertainment, but it’s all still too little. Maybe they should throw in the model as well?
Samsung Armani
Another would-be iKiller is the Samsung Giorgio Armani mobile phone. Designed in collaboration with the famous fashion designer, the Samsung Armani is a rather stylish looking handset, but of course that goes without saying. This slim and sleek touchscreen handset comes with a 240 x 320 pixel, 2.6-inch touchscreen display.
The Armani is a GSM handset that supports EDGE and GPRS for Internet connectivity, and Stereo Bluetooth and USB v2.0 for other connectivity. The handset has a 3.2 MP autofocus camera with video recording feature. Other features include an MS document viewer and a media player for music and videos. The Armani’s memory can be expanded using microSD cards.
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Levis
Premier jeans maker Levis has also got a stake in the mobile game with help from ModeLabs. Their offering to mobiledom is an 11mm thin handset that is quite well-equipped. The handset even comes with a clip and chain for securing it to a belt loop.
Feature-wise the handset offers Bluetooth with an A2DP profile, USB connectivity, a media player, FM radio and microSD card support. It also has a 2MP camera with a flash. For net connectivity it supports just WAP and also has a built in modem. The Levi’s mobile comes equipped with a 1.8-inch TFT display with a resolution of 220 x 176 pixels and 262K colors. It weighs just 98 grams.
Christian Dior
It’s ModeLabs all over again, this time with Christian Dior, one of the world’s finest fashion houses and scentmaker par excellence. This is an elite handset designed for just that class. The designers have gone with a clamshell (flip) form factor with a touchscreen interface.
The Dior phone comes with a specially designed accessory called ‘My Dior’. This gadget acts as a sort of micro-handset and can be clipped to the outside of a purse. It’s primary function is to be used for quick access to certain features in the phone without having to rummage through the handbag. I wonder if the handset will also come with a little scent dispenser in case the women require it.
What’s next? A Colgate mobile? Your guess is as good as mine. I’m positive there are plenty of companies who want to come up with their own branded handsets, but we’ll have to wait and see whowill take the plunge next. What industry do you think would be breaking into the mobile business next? Email your suggestions or leave a comment here. Happy Independence Day!
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