Elle Magazine is releasing the GlamPhone, a GSM camera phone for use with T-Mobile or Cingular service. The GlamPhone is being sold directly from Elle Magazine for $179.99, and will begin shipping Sept. 1. Purchase of the Alcatel-manufactured phone comes with a free one-year subscription to Elle Magazine and a carry strap bearing a silver E. A matching hands-free headset for $14.99 and a car charger for $19.99 are also available.
\r\nThe phone’s high-gloss screen functions as a mirror when the phone is open.
The GlamPhone takes a SIM card for easy transfer of stored numbers from previous phones. There is no need for an activation on the part of one’s carrier. The phone will begin working as soon as the SIM card from an old phone is inserted, according to Elle.\r\n
\r\nThe GlamPhone also comes with 32 polyphonic ring tones, a clock, alarm, photo editor, hands-free capability, 3MB of memory and SMS/EMS/MMS messaging capability. Its lithium battery offers six hours of talk time and 280 hours of standby.
Currently, the GlamPhone comes in red or black in the U.S., and more colors may become available. The French version of the GlamPhone, which was released early this spring, comes in pink, orange (pictured), silver and black.\r\n
\r\nThe phone as fashion accessory is nothing new. Motorola released a gold Dolce&Gabbana Razr with a matching necklace in June. And Verizon Wireless launched LG’s Chocolate phone for use in the U.S. in July.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
