January 7, 2008 4:25 PM PST

Samsung Armani phone sighted at CES

by Kent German

Armani anyone?

(Credit: Samsung)

Celebrity sightings of people have been pretty slim so far at CES, but we did get to see a celebrity cell phone. Samsung's Armani handset was sitting pretty in Samsung's enormous booth; most of the time it was behind glass, but we did see it up close. Like LG's Prada model, the Armani phone is all about design, and in this case it's decidedly minimalist. A large (2.6-inch), 262,000-color touch screen dominates the entire front face of the candy-bar device, and a slim profile (0.41 inch) means it casts a slight shadow. The display also features haptic feedback so you know you're actually pressing a control.

Features include a full Internet browser, stereo Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel camera, a digital music and video player, and a microSD card slot. As it's a triband phone (GSM 900/1800/1900), it's better suited for the European market, but you can still buy unlocked in the United States for a wallet-stretching $700. No one said high couture came cheap.

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (6 Comments)
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by nickypickysticky8 January 7, 2008 6:53 PM PST
are the send and end keys tactile
Reply to this comment
by jduahdjhdjhaad3 January 8, 2008 6:52 AM PST
it is all touch screen so t s and e k are not tactile
by jduahdjhdjhaad3 January 8, 2008 5:50 PM PST
my mistake tactile right
by jduahdjhdjhaad3 January 8, 2008 5:49 PM PST
mymistake /tactile
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by DuckInA.Pond January 11, 2008 3:54 PM PST
Yes, te Call/End keys are tactile and for once *real* buttons.
Reply to this comment
by ebouph January 22, 2008 4:58 PM PST
i was wondering which carrier will this phone be with?
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