Samsung-Armani Luxury Mobile Unveiled

Samsung Electronics and fashion designer Giorgio Armani have announced a strategic alliance for the development of portable and home consumer electronics products founded on a combination of Armani’s design aesthetics and Samsung’s technology.

The portable products will be developed for both the signature Giorgio Armani and fashion-forward Emporio Armani lifestyles, while home electronics products will be developed as part of the Armani/Casa home interiors lifestyle.

Giorgio Armani presented the new mobile phone at a press briefing in his Armani/Teatro in Milan, Italy, before his Spring Summer 2008 Women's fashion show. The phone will be available in upscale mobile phone stores and Giorgio Armani boutiques in major European countries from November 2007, with expansion to other markets planned for 2008.

"Today’s increasingly style-conscious consumers demand products that combine modern design with optimum performance and functionality. This powerful partnership will match great design with leading technology to ensure performance is as impressive as appearance," said Jong-Yong Yun, vice chairman, Samsung Electronics.

"Today fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, we make a personal statement with the mobile phones that we carry or the televisions we have in our living rooms. Samsung has successfully anticipated the growing role for consumer electronics in our lives, while recognising the importance of self-expression in the development of its products," said Giorgio Armani, president and CEO of Giorgio Armani SpA.
Though the P520 is very compact it comes equipped with 2.5 G, GSM/EDGE, 3 megapixel camera, 2.6 inch 262K color 240x320 pixel QVGA touchscreen, 50 MB memory and Bluetooth. The bundled music player supports H.263, AAC+/MP3/WMA, MPEG4, AAC, e-AAC+ formats. Also on offer are a microSD external memory slot and a Bluetooth stereo headset. The estimated price is 400 Euro.

When will this phone come to India? "It’s too early to talk about whether it will come and when. We will surely bring it to the Indian market and check its response. Only then it will be launched in India," said Yuvraj Mehta, head, corporate communications, Samsung telecommunications, India

Also on the cards is the Armani/Casa-Samsung luxury LCD television, which is expected to be unveiled in January 2008.