Xelibri [SEP] manufacturer
Xelibri
Xelibri (pronounced "ex-elibrii") was a fashion-oriented range of mobile phones created by Siemens Mobile and introduced in January 2003. Two "collections" each consisting of four bizarrely designed phones were released before the Xelibri project was dropped due to poor sales in 2004. The first "Space on Earth" (2003 Q2, Xelibri 1 to 4) collection with its "Star Trek" influences was designed in-house by Siemens whilst the second "Fashion Extravaganza" (2003 Q4, Xelibri 5
to 8) collection was contracted out to IDEO design.
The Xelibri division was headed by American George Appling. Appling said to the media that "sixty percent" of the world don't need Xelibri, and that they are going after the 40 percent "who rank design as their top priority." The initial strategy was two "collections" every year. Although the phones were designed by top designers, marketed as fashion accessories and sold at a high price, the designs were strange and quite detached from what a fashion