Prada in LG phone makes for stylish techSINGAPORE--Four years after LG Electronics and Prada began their cross-industry collaboration combining technology and luxury goods, mobile phones today remain the focal product of their partnership.
From personal experienceWhile Vitali expects the phones to attract existing Prada customers looking for something new, he said the mobile devices will also appeal to those who want a "good combination" of strong technology and style."[For instance], the accessory we are presenting with this phone--the Prada Link--is very simple, but at the same time, very new and innovative," he said. "I think it is something that will attract interest in this product." Prada Link, sold separately as an accessory to the phone, is a Bluetooth-enabled digital timepiece that can remotely monitor phonecalls as well as read SMS messages. Because it supports Bluetooth, the device allows users to screen calls and check text messages without removing the phone from their bag or pocket. According to Vitali, this gadget was a result of discussions both companies had on ways to improve their product. "So we came up with a discussion about consumer needs based on our own daily experiences," he said. Someone at a meeting, for example, will not want to keep checking the mobile phone each time it rings. Asked why the companies chose to release a luxury handset amid falling global demand for consumer electronics due to the current economic slowdown, Vitali said: "This phone is a natural evolution from the first release, taking the best of what we have in terms of design and encompassing new features and innovation. "We realize at the moment it's not a product for everyone but…we think there is still a kind of consumer that is looking for something like this." Chang added: "The recession makes consumers more cautious about spending their money, but if the reason to buy and pay for the product is good enough, there will be consumers who still look for it." According to Vitali, over 1 million units of the first Prada phone were sold worldwide. "It appears, now, many of those customers are buying the second Prada phone," he said. "We think this is a very good indication that the phone is not just perceived as marketing [hype], but that there are people who are satisfied with the first product." Sol E. Solomon for ZDNet Asia reported from Singapore Tags: Prada, Cell Phone, Product, LG Electronics Inc., mobile
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