Samsung phone is for gold fingers

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER Samsung is planning to launch a fancy phone aimed at the wealthy Chinese which will be decorated with 18 carat gold.

The phone, which will be dubbed the P318+, is being brought out exclusively in China to coincide with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It's a super-posh version of the existing - and super slim - P310 model and will sport all the standard gadget features such as a camera, bluetooth and mp3 player, but will be made of gold instead of metal.

No word yet on when the model's going to be on the market, but Samsung spokesman Lee Seung-han reassured the Korea Herald that it will "be expensive."

Samsung is hoping that the gold phone will appeal to rich Chinese folk particularly for the association with Olympic gold medals. A bronze phone is not yet on the cards. µ