Xelibri
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Xelibri was a fashion-orientated range of mobile phones created by Siemens mobile in early 2003. Two ‘collections’ each consisting of 4 bizarrely designed phones were released before the Xelibri project was dropped due to poor sales in April 2004. The first ‘Space on Earth’ collection with its star trek influences was designed in house by Siemens whilst the second ‘Fashion Extravaganza’ collection was contracted out to IDEO design.
Although the phones were designed by top designers[1], marketed as fashion accessories and sold at a high price the designs were strange and quite detached from what a fashion and style conscious consumer would be looking for in a mobile phone. Xelibri phones also lacked a recognisable brand name, the highly regarded Siemens logo only appeared on the battery cover of the phones.
Expensive advertising and well-placed sales stands in department stores did nothing to help the sales figures of the Xelibri range. Although on the outside the designs were eye catching and experimental the technology inside the phones was nothing more than low end unsophisticated Siemens models which lacked all but the most basic features. This, when coupled with strange keypad design made the phones quite difficult and clumbersome to use.
