JEDDAH, 17 March 2006 — Jeddah witnessed a spectacular event on Wednesday night, with the ambiance reflecting Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and tradition. The venue was Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum on Sitteen Road, near Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital.
The museum’s setting reflected the heritage of old Jeddah, which was replete with “ancient crafts”, embroidered ceilings and carpets, and traditional artifacts. The setting underlined the commitment of one of the major mobile phone manufacturers to push the boundaries of mobile phone design.
The Nokia telephone company hosted the event and presented its new L’Amour collection of trend-inspired and trend-setting mobile phones — the 7360, the 7370 and the 7380. Each model in the collection offered a mix of contrasts — infusing cultural and ethnic influences with luxurious touches of the unexpected, according to Alastair Curtis, vice president of design at Nokia’s Mobile Phones Division. Hints of vintage and craftsmanship are fused with natural materials, colors and patterns, all carefully crafted and layered with a passion for detail.
“For many consumers, the mobile phone has truly become an extension of their personal style,” Curtis said, adding that it is now a fashion statement as well as an advanced communications device. “Every detail of these products, from the nature-inspired graphics to the velvet-lined pouches, has been carefully considered with the style-conscious individual in mind. We’re very confident that consumers who appreciate design and attention to detail will fall in love with the new collection.”
Nokia’s design team looked to materials including amber, ceramic, turquoise, silk and enamel for inspiration while designing and developing the new collection. Craft techniques, such as enameling and etching added a creative spark to the graphics, materials, finishes and colors selected for each model in the collection.
“We chose a museum for this launch because it reflects the heritage of the city and showcases its rich history of dynamic and eclectic mixes that echoes the flair embodied in these handsets,” Eddie Maalouf, Nokia marketing director for the Middle East and Africa region, said.
“We’re sure that the fashion-conscious consumers in the Kingdom will see these phones as a distinctive way to express and complement their individual styles.”
Nokia’s 7380 demonstrates a “reflection of discerning taste,” with features that includes keyless dial, 2-megapixel camera (4x zoom), enhanced voice commands and MP3 player. The 7370, which is designed to make “heads turn,” has features including 1.3 megapixel camera (8x zoom), 2-inch QVGA color screen (320 x 240 pixels), stereo speakers with 3D sound effects and video ring tones. The “charming, graceful and compact” 7360 boasts features including integrated VGA camera, stereo FM radio and MP3 ring tones, Nokia MNE Communications Manager Talal Eid said in his opening remarks.
