Handset covers affairs of fashion

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Published: 12:00am, 23 Sep 2003

Dressed for success, the 3200 phone is the first product from Finnish phone firm Nokia to offer cut-out covers. For savvy marketer Nokia, this could take its phone-as-fashion-accessory approach to another level.

From the fourth quarter, the 3200 will be sold in special packs with four cut-out covers that have matching wallpaper and polyphonic ring tones, as well as 10 blank, perforated covers to fit the unique keypad shape. Polyphonic ring tones are closer to real-world sounds than standard tones.

Using the blanks, users can browse for designs online or create their own designs on their computers for printing. They can also paint, paste, sketch or colour their designs on the blanks. The 3200's transparent housing serves as a frame for the designs.

Selected retail stores will offer covers - 'Snowboard', 'Street life' or 'Urban-chic' - which have thematic wallpaper and ring tones. Exclusive to Asia-Pacific users will be 'Nature Park' - which offers cut-out covers, a Java game, a ring tone, wallpaper and multimedia messaging service (MMS) picture. A cutter will also be available to 'punch out'' customised covers from images and artwork printed on plain paper, to create one-of-a-kind designs. Mobile themes for the 3200 phone will be available at www.nokia.com/shop.

The 3200 also features an integrated camera, a large colour screen, MMS functionality, and tri-band operation. Images taken with the camera can be turned into covers. Users in Asia-Pacific can also go to Kodak Online, at www.kodak.com/go/mobile_asia, to upload images they have taken and send them for printing as cut-out covers.

Other features include an integrated torch, built-in FM radio, infrared connectivity, PC Suite software and voice clip recording that can be sent via MMS or used as a ring tone.