09/24/2007, 2:05pm, EDT
Monday, September 24thSamsung debuts Armani-themed 'iPhone killer' [U]
(Updated with launch info) Samsung today officially confirmed its collaboration with Armani to produce a new cellphone that reflects the fashion designer's sense of style. Simply called the Armani-Samsung luxury mobile phone but known internally as the P520, the device is a direct challenge to both the iPhone and LG's Prada phone with the same emphasis on a touch-driven interface. The 2.6-inch display's only physical controls on its front face are call answer and end buttons; dialing, contacts, and other data are handled exclusively through software. The black, chrome-ringed look is destined to "achieve an iconic status," Samsung claims.
Samsung did not touch on the phone's expected use of EDGE and Wi-Fi access but confirmed its media capture and playback features, including a 3-megapixel camera as well as support for audio in AAC and MP3 forms, H.264 and MPEG-4 videos, and the use of microSD for storage. Bluetooth is also expected, though whether or not stereo audio support was uncertain, based on early details.
The Armani-Samsung device is expected to launch in November through traditional phone retail stores as well as Armani's own clothiers. Pricing and availability is not fixed, though the phone should be available at least in Europe for 400 Euros ($563) and may spread to the US if EDGE is included. Armani expects to continue its teamwork and will help design an LCD TV to be launched in January.
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Hey, competition is good. At least the model wasn't totally ripped off of the iPhone like that other phone you posted about today.
It's well made and well thought out, but it's not an iPhone-killer.
Basically, they've admitted that the iPhone *is* iconic, and has already permanently altered how we think of cell phone design. Now all they can do is try to evolve that basic design further.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear people describing these as "the Armani iPhone" or "the Prada iPhone". It must drive them nuts, just like Canon reps go berserk when you call their copiers "xerox machines".
Having said all that, it is still just a Samsung. Just like all non-iPods that compete against each other for the remainder of the market share, so will this Samsung soon compete for the remainder of the cellphone market share, leaving iPhone to freely charge ahead, head and shoulders above the rest.
"Is that the new CH-W3476S?" "No, it is the CH-X7756R!" "Oh, cool! Wow! My sister has a similar one; hers is CH-Y3376R, but with more memory..."
Very simple and very effective. Which is why Apple's products are now:
iPhone iPod (shuffle, nano, touch, classic) iMac MacBook etc, etc, etc...