Ferrari inspires the Motorola i833 phone

In another example of cross-brand synergy Motorola and Pininfarina - the design company behind such iconic vehicles as Ferrari and Maserati - are releasing the Pininfarina Limited Edition Motorola i833 mobile phone. The i833 is a titanium-coloured model with a sleek shape inspired by the lines of a Ferrari car. The car-like housing of the handset also features a translucent internal lens that gives users a peek into the "hood" of the phone, a gas tank-shaped audio jack cover and grill-like bottom connector cover.

"Looking at the cell phone industry, I noticed a contrast between the technological progress and a lack of emotion and aesthetic personality," said Paolo Pininfarina, chairman and CEO of Pininfarina Extra, the division of the Pininfarina Group dedicated to non-automotive industrial design. "That is my vision: to turn mobile communication into an emotional experience."

"Just as Ferrari is known as much for performance as design, this latest Motorola mobile phone combines the elegance typical of Pininfarina design with the advanced technology and innovation typical of Motorola," said Rey More, senior vice president and general manager, Motorola's iDEN(R) Subscriber Group.

The Pininfarina Limited Edition Motorola i833 offers a vibrant internal colour display, walkie-talkie service for instant communication at the touch of a button from coast to coast and throughout much of the Americas, voice dialling and voice recorder, built-in speakerphone, external caller ID, GPS technology for location-based services, and Java(TM) technology.

Pre-installed applications include a calculator, JAMDAT SPORTS NFL 2005, and ChessBuddy and ReversiBuddy, both by Coffeebreak Media. Pre-installed ring tones include the songs "Gloria", "Born to be Wild", "Satisfaction", "Start Me Up", and the sound of a car engine starting. Exclusive wallpaper designs include pictures of Ferrari cars and images of open roads.

The Pininfarina Limited Edition Motorola i833 mobile phone is available at Bloomingdale's stores for a suggested retail price of US $599, which includes an elegant wooden box, a leather carry case, and a sleek desktop holder/charger. Service is available through Nextel Communications in the United States.