versace
Latest
Versace Unique launched, Vertu put on notice
And here it is, the Versace phone. Teaming up with the ModeLabs outfit that's already quite familiar with building lush phone-like pieces of handheld jewelry, Versace has just announced its first foray into the world of touchscreen communicators. It's quite the striking debut, too, coming with a sapphire crystal screen that is apparently the largest single piece ever offered in a consumer device, as well as gold plating and "high-tech ceramic" construction options. Hand assembly is an obvious standard feature, as is the Medusa-embossed leather back. LG is responsible for putting together the innards, including the 3-inch display and 5 megapixel camera, and worry not, we understand a black version will be available too. Look for the Unique in the usual places you find wildly overpriced gear starting next month.
Versace's first phone gets FCC approval, is actually the LG GD970?
So check this out: remember how fashion house Versace announced a few months back that it had teamed up with France's ModeLabs to put together its own designer handset? Well, we're pretty sure we've spotted it in the FCC's files today as the "VER-01" -- there's no trace of Versace branding in what few documents aren't under confidentiality at this point, but the model code combined with the fact that this is a ModeLabs filing is enough to connect the dots. Here's where it gets interesting, though: digging through the documents a bit reveals that the VER-01 is actually another name for the LG GD970 -- and if you check out LG's user agent profile for the unannounced device, you discover that it's a feature phone (that is, not an Android, Symbian, or WinMo device) rocking a comfortable 800 x 480 display. It's interesting that ModeLabs would subcontract the phone like this, but maybe Versace was requesting some high-end, tech-savvy stuff that the company wasn't able to deliver without pulling a giant like LG into the mix. Regardless of what's going on here, though, it's never too early to start saving those pennies. Millions upon millions of pennies.
Versace working on a phone for some reason
Pull off another successful million-dollar pump and dump? Did Daddy's $60,000 monthly allowance check just clear? Vertu a little too bourgeois for you these days? If you answered "oui" to at least one of the above, Versace's upcoming bespoke handset might be just for you. Created in close partnership with matriarch Donatella Versace, it turns out that the company behind the project is the very same that brought both TAG Heuer's and Christian Dior's phones to market in the past -- France's ModeLabs -- but this new model is said to outstrip the Dior's sticker price of €3,500 (about $5,040) by some probably outrageous margin. The hot mess of rare earth metal, leather, and jewels is set for a private VIP preview in Paris next week (trust us, you're not invited, nor are we) followed by a May launch, so start pinching those pennies.
