Some of you may have read online that the successor to the PRADA phone by LG was globally launched in Europe last November. If you’re wondering when the phone would reach Asian cities, you’d have to wait no more! Two weeks ago, TiC was invited and flown down to Singapore (along with other members of the media and bloggers from Malaysia, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila) for the Asia Pacific launch.
Held at 6-star St. Regis hotel (where they put us up to stay too!), the launch included a Q+A session with the VP of Marketing at LG, Chang Ma, and PRADA’s Licensing Director, Matteo Sessa Vitali.
The latest edition of the LG PRADA phone (LG-KF900) has been upgraded in terms of technology features, but maintains its minimalist exterior. A new addition would be the slim Qwerty keyboard that slides out for easy use.
Fully touch-screen, the phone includes 3G capability with HSDPA up to 7.2 Mbps, 5-megapixel camera, slow motion video recording, DivX playback, Wi-Fi, full HTML browser, and video calling capabilities.
A PRADA fan might lust for this phone because it’s still PRADA, after all, but what other features from the global fashion house can one expect (besides the design, which both LG and PRADA claim equal effort in)?
These elements would be ringtones of tunes that are played at PRADA’s runway shows, and wallpapers illustrating their principle themes from as far back as 2001. Also included are other wallpapers and video clips from their Fall/Winter 2008 Lookbook and a new PRADA animation film.
Remember PRADA’s Trembled Blossoms animation? Well, a darker video is dedicated to the LG PRADA phone, called Fallen Shadows.
Using computer motion capture and cyber-scanning (where the entire body is scanned and recorded to render an animated character), Fallen Shadows was undertaken with director James Lima.
But enough about animation, let me tell you about LG PRADA’s exciting accessory – the PRADA Link.
Besides having the features of a typical watch (stopwatch, alarm), the Link has Bluetooth to synchronize with the LG PRADA, allowing you to check who’s calling and read text messages without digging around your handbag!
Vitali mentioned that they didn’t plan to design the Link at first, but while they were designing the second phone to release, they decided to stick to the original design and extend the experience of using the first phone instead.
What with this, and the Dior phone that has mini companion My Dior, a trend for phone accessories just so you won’t have to access your phone is certainly coming about! What next, earrings and necklace combos to make calls with?
At 51 grams, the Link’s full metal body and tempered glass face is flanked by Prada’s signature Saffiano leather straps, which I’m not so fond of. It feels more like plastic than leather, but it does make the leather scratch-proof. Still, for something that connects to your phone and is water resistant up to 30 metres, it’s undeniably a nifty gadget that would spark the interest of friends.
The PRADA Phone by LG and the PRADA Link are currently available in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, and will subsequently launch in the Philippines, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and other markets in the region. For more info, visit their website here.
Retail price (sold separately) :
Malaysia
LG PRADA phone – RM2,999
PRADA Link – RM1,699
Available at Maxis centres.
Singapore
LG PRADA phone – SGD1,288
PRADA Link – SGD688
What do you think? Is this something you would splurge on?
