Prada Phone by LG 3.0 launches in South Korea

Prada's latest smartphone collaboration with LG -- the Prada Phone by LG 3.0 -- debuts in South Korea today and will be rolling out to most European and Asian countries in January. Fashion-conscious phone geeks in North America are definitely next-in-line for the designer phone but there is no word yet on its street date, carrier or price.

• Photo Gallery: Prada Phone by LG 3.0 (photos)

Unlike the first-generation LG Prada (LG KE850) that pioneered the full touchscreen phone, the LG 3.0 does not boast the most cutting edge specs but is a respectable 4G/HSPA+ phone. With a 4.3-inch WVGA (800 x 480), 800-nit bright NOVA display, it is all touchscreen (plus 4 Android capacitive touch "buttons") on the front, with Prada's signature Saffiano pattern on the back.

Other Key Technical Specs:

• Processor: Dual-core 1GHz processor with dual-channel architecture
• Internal Storage: 8 GB of internal storage + microSD slot
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, HDMI/MHL with microUSB, NFC
• Sensors: A-GPS
• Cameras: 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and auto focus; 1.3-megapixel front camera
• Network: 4G/HSPA+ network capable of up to 21Mbps
• Depth: 8.5 mm thick

Although the LG 3.0 ships with Gingerbread (Android 2.3.7) in a custom black-and-white theme, it will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich in the second quarter of 2012, so there is a chance the North American release could come with ICS on-board.

It's too bad this Prada phone completely missed the holiday season even though it was unveiled in London earlier this month and only trickling to other countries in 2012. I'm sure there are stylish techies who wouldn't have minded getting the LG 3.0 this past Christmas, but may not remember this phone by the end of 2012 or even after CES in a couple of weeks. What do you think?

[Source: LG, Wikipedia, Engadget, GSM Arena]

Related:

• Photo Gallery: Prada Phone by LG 3.0 (photos)