Cellular catwalk: Accessorize

Cellular catwalk: Accessorize

I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta

Mobile phones have gradually entered a new niche as fashion
accessories with the widespread availability of interchangeable
covers, personalized ring tones and artful displays.

They are more stylish now, with casings produced in different
colors and with more futuristic and chic designs, combined with
an all-in-one functionality.

Cell phone manufacturers are creating cell phones beyond our
imagination, and many of them have special design teams to study
the latest and future trends of cell phone models with the
potential to attract consumers.

For example, German company Siemens has a subsidiary that
specializes in handset designs, while other cellular phone makers
-- including Finnish Nokia, South Korean Samsung and Japanese-
Swedish Sony-Ericsson and American Motorola -- have supporting
divisions for designing fashionable terminals. Still others also
operate survey divisions to study users' cellular phone habits.

With the rapid development of new technology and following the
miniaturization of the electronic components, makers are now
changing the look of theirs gadgets because they can. Not too
long ago, technological limitations would have made it impossible
to design some of the cell phones of today.

Another reason for the newfound excitement in design is that
cell phones are now seen as a lifestyle product and customers
expect their phone to match their clothes or fashion style. This
means that cell phones have potential as fashion accessories like
watches, handbags and shoes -- and the trend may soon lead people
to buy many fashion accessory phones to match their every mood,
occasion or attire.

Above all, within such an environment, it makes sense to
believe that most people purchase cell phones to show off -- just
like their cars, jewelry or homes.

Meanwhile, gender, age, purchasing power and other
characteristics of a target market influence the look of cell
phones. To meet particular characteristics, several terminals
have been designed to include devices for fun and entertainment,
such as MP3 players or radio bands. Such features affect the
phones' appearance, especially in the arrangement of the number
pad Therefore there are unique designs with extraordinary
arrangements of buttons.

The users' character also allows fashion designers to enter
the cellular phone business. Designers are able to turn ordinary
cell phones into colorful fashion statements with vivid looks.

In a related development, Samsung recently encouraged fashion
designers to combine cellular phones and other digital devices
into their designs. The result included a wearable digital phone
set with screen and keypad belts and a wearable antenna.

Other makers have also become trendsetters in successfully
combining good design with high functionality. For example, Sony-
Ericsson is developing sophisticated wristband smart phones,
which will use Bluetooth technology.

Siemens, on the other hand, has its Xelibri products, which
are marketed as fashion accessories that can make phone calls.
Each Xelibri collection will consist of four phones and, as in
fashion, there will be spring/summer and fall/winter collections.
The phones will be available in limited quantities and have a
life span of twelve months, which is significantly shorter than
existing cell phones.

Meanwhile, Motorola has released its V878 and V690 with VGA
camera and video recorder. It has also developed the V300, which
packages state-of-the-art wireless capabilities in a sporty and
stylish design.

Nokia has expanded its range of classic phones with the
introduction of a new phone with an appealing design and rich
features, the 3120. The phone is classic, yet contemporary, and
is functional with a solid selection of digital technology that
provides an enhanced cellular experience.

Nokia has also introduced its new 7200 series, its first flip-
top phone model, which offers sensuous elegance in its textile
covers.

In fact, cellular phones enable users to access the Internet,
take pictures, take and play video clips, download and play
songs, dispatch text and multimedia messages and play video
games. Soon, users will be able to tap into streaming live video,
locate coordinates with Global Positioning System (GPS)
technology, record hour-long videos and store shopping lists.

There seems to be no limit to what handsets can, and will, be.
It is easy to imagine that cell phones will one day be a
television, camera and video recorder, computer, PDA, iPod,
Nintendo and GPS system, all rolled into one.

Responding to the demands of stylish urban sophisticates,
phone makers will most likely enjoy better incomes alongside
rising sales, as customers vie to keep up with the latest
trends.

Still, there is no doubt that convenience and functionality
continue to be the main draw for consumers.