NEW YORK, Sep 2, 2003/ FW/ --- It's bound to happen - the marriage of fashion and technology.

At first glance, it is the most unlikely marriage. Fashion people are 'touchy feely' to use a vernacular. Technology people are 'logical and square,' if you believe the stereotype.

But there is one very important thing they have in common - both have to design their products which will appeal to their clientele.

Gone are the days when mobile phones look like a brick. The 'brick' was acceptable during the late 1980s, even early 1990s, when the technology was new.

In less than 20 years, wireless technology has gone from the 'stone age' to 'computer age.' If in the beginning, it was all about function, today, 'style and looks' are as important as the functions the mobile phone provides for it to sell.

"The fashion industry has a huge influence on our mobile phone design," comments Bernt Klein, senior vice president and general manager of the Mobile Phones unit, North America region of Siemens.

Consumer electronics are becoming part of the fashion world. Mobile phones have become stylish and trendy, even unique.

And for Siemens, they design their phones similar to the way a fashion designer looks to different influences for his or her creation.

Siemens bases its mobile phone designs on the latest trends and styles. Working closely with Designafairs, one of the largest creative agencies in Europe, Siemens innovative design concepts try to match people's lifestyles and tastes.

And like fashion designers who draw inspiration from materials, textiles, colors and shapes, Siemens also draw inspiration from the same things, designing communication devices that will set the trends for the next five years and adapt these elements to all parts of the mobile phones.

And to put itself right in the middle of the action, Siemens has chosen to be one of the major sponsors of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week and launch its latest mobile phone, the SL56 with its revolutionary sliding design in Bryant Park.

Drawing its origins from a global network of inspired designers and fashion consultants, the SL56 phone is the newest mobile device for the fashion-conscious.

The phone departs from the traditional candy bar and clamshell designs with a slider design that is eye-catching, small and easy- to-use.

Users slide open the illuminated keypad to make calls, send basic text messages or compose more animated messages with sound and graphics.

The high-end SL56 mobile phone was created for consumers who care about personalization, style and trendy design without sacrificing simplicity or full mobile communication and entertainment capabilities.

It features a titanium-colored case, a translucent keypad and a 4,096-color display that enables easy, vivid communication.

Rich polyphonic sound, voice activated dialing, wireless Web access, and the ability to beam ring tones, contacts and data files via an infrared port make the SL56 an invaluable resource for the man or woman on the move.

As the official mobile phone sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Siemens will have a significant presence through SL56 phone giveaways to models and the media, limited edition Siemens giveaways in VIP gift bags, and branded signage in the Bryant Park tents. Siemens is also a sponsor of the VOGUE and W Hotels kick-off party on Sept. 10 in Manhattan.

Top supermodels, the fashion media and VIP guests will toast the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with the hot new Siemens SL56.

(Photos courtesy of Siemens via PRNewsFoto)