Prada Phone price announced

According to a press release issued from Hong Kong, the Prada Phone by LG is making a debut in Asia today. The handset will cost HK$6,200 in Hong Kong, NT$29,000 in Taiwan (with Bluetooth headset included) and S$1,288 (US$947.06) in Singapore, though it doesn't mean stocks are available yet.

Editors' note: May 4, 2007--LG Electronics Singapore has clarified that the Prada Phone will cost S$1,288 (US$947.06) (without contract) instead of S$1,188 (US$873.53) as was given earlier. The article has been amended to reflect the changes.

At a local press launch for its Shine handsets, Howard Lee, managing director for LG Electronics Singapore, said there will be only 1,000 units available on the island-state and it will not be bundled with a Bluetooth headset.

The phone can be purchased from Prada boutiques for the first few weeks from the time it is released and is expected to be available around mid-May in Singapore.

If the iPhone morphed into a watch

If anything can be said of the people at SMS Technology, it's that they don't waste any time. Only two months after the appearance of their "world's smallest phone"--a Dick Tracy-style watch communicator--the Australian company has already filed for a next-generation version that some say looks like an iPhone for the wrist.

Gadgetell reports that plans for the "M500," as it's called, have been filed with the FCC and that it includes "all your basic phone functions plus SMS texting, audio, video and Bluetooth." It also also feature a 1.5-inch color OLED touchscreen with a built-in stylus.

Judging by the photos, though, this won't the most petite device in the world. Although the product literature claims it barely weighs 2 ounces, it looks more like a slightly smaller version of the iPhone strapped to a wristband than our idea of a watch-phone. We do, however, know of at least one group who will be thrilled by the news: The writers for SNL.

Picture credit: SMS Technology

LG gets "touchy" with new patents

If you're still not convinced that touchscreen mobiles are the future, you better start psyching yourself to embrace the new technology.

According to a report by Unwired View, LG has recently filed two patents that seem to signify its Prada phone is just the start of a series of touchscreen mobile devices. The first of the patents talks about a handset with a pair of touch panels that work either independently or as one screen split into two. If you cannot imagine this, just picture the Nintendo DS Lite look and feel on your mobile phone.

The second patent describes "dynamic icons that are able to move in reaction to user actions or functions to be performed". While this sounds more interesting, we're not too sure about the usefulness of menu icons moving randomly on a screen when we have to jostle with the rush hour crowd on the commute while trying to maintain a grip on the overhead handle bar.

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Picture credit: Unwired View

Samsung F300 to debut in five colors mid-May

Samsung has finally given its much-awaited music-phone, the Ultra Music F300, a mid-May launch date.

First announced at last year's ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong, the F300 caught our attention with its unique dual-display candy-bar design that sports a phone face on one side and an MP3 player on the other side. It will retail for S$698 (US$513.24) without contract and S$598 (US$439.71) with a two-year mobile plan.

Showcased for the first time in Singapore at the recent Samsung Fun Club 4th Anniversary party, the F300 will be offered in five colors red, orange, white, blue as well as the original black. Like the Samsung SGH-P310 card-sized phone, the F300 will be bundled with a leather phone holder that doubles as second battery for longer usage. Other noteworthy features on this triband music-phone are a 2-megapixel camera, touchscreen MP3 interface, FM radio, stereo Bluetooth and a microSD card slot.

Also on display at the media event was a matching Bluetooth stereo speaker which comes with onboard playback controls. Although no further details were available on this interesting accessory, its onboard microphone seems to suggest that it can double as a speakerphone, too. A built-in stand also allows users to keep the F300 standing upright for easy viewing of the display. Click here for more details of the F300.

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Champagne gold KRZR loves Hong Kong

We've seen our fair share of gold handsets aimed squarely at those with deep pockets, but one that's dedicated to a city? That's unheard of.

Not quite the same as a Vertu or even the 18-carat gold-plated Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold, Motorola is upping its fashion quotient on the KRZR K1 by dressing it in a rich shade of champagne gold. Catch is, the limited-edition clamshell is available only in Hong Kong. According to the company, customers will enjoy a 5-percent discount and free Sa Sa gold nail polish at any Sa Sa Cosmetics store in Hong Kong and Macau upon purchase of the handset.

No word on how many pieces will be made available or how much it will cost, but we're pretty darn sure you don't have to rob a bank to own this Moto.

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