Versace phone: Hot tech meets haute couture
For years, cell phone makers have ignored the needs of fashion-conscious consumers and designed cell phones that are black, gray, silver or what I like to call completely boring. I was, therefore, pleased to hear that electronics giant Samsung has announced a new line of cell phones designed by legendary Italian fashion label Gianni Versace.
Though T-Mobile offers the Juicy Couture Sidekick and Motorola carries the popular pink Razr, too few cell phone carriers have broken into the world of designer labels. The Samsung E500 Versus is a godsend to fashionistas everywhere--hot technology meets haute couture.
The Versus is a compact, clamshell phone with a sleek design typical of Versace Spa's clothing line and features like a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and MP3 functionality. The clean lines and simple yet elegant color options are typical of Versace's style, which is somewhat threadbare in its simplicity, but eye-catching, nonetheless. One of the phone's selling points is the Mobile Box feature, a tool that allows users to apply different hairstyles to pictures of themselves. The phone also boasts a 1-inch LCD screen that doubles as a mirror--a must-have for on-the-run makeup jobs. (Note to Samsung: If you find a way to integrate automatic eyebrow tweezers and a lipstick applicator, you will definitely win the hearts, and wallets, of anyone with two X chromosomes.)
The phone does not feature PDA/e-mail functionality and may not make sense for those looking for an all-in-one handheld. However, its smooth design and trendy color options--white with gold trim, white with antique pink trim or black with silver trim--make it a perfect accessory for a girl on the go. Samsung is planning to continue collaborations with Versace and expand the line, with the company's goal to facilitate "the convergence between fashion, multimedia and telecommunications."
According to Samsung, the E500 Versus will be released in Italian markets by the end of August; however, the company has not announced a release date for the United States. Pricing and availability information is not yet available.