Engadget article:

"Sony Ericsson busts out a Ducati-themed Z770

by Nilay Patel, posted May 28th 2008 at 11:09PM

We've seen plenty of gear co-branded by high-end automakers, but only Ducati's really putting out bike-themed gear, and the latest gadget to get dressed up in cycle gear is the Sony Ericsson Z770 flip phone. Due out in Italy this June, the Ducati Z770 isn't anything particularly special apart from that paint job and a special Ducati-themed HBH DS-220 headset, but if you're into tri-band GSM non-smartphones with slightly better browsers, it's not a bad piece of kit. Just remember to take your keys out of your bike when you wander off chatting away, alright?"

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/28/sony-ericsson-busts-out-a-ducati-themed-z770/

This is... cool?  I think?  It actually looks like a nice phone.  I know they have done a lot of branding with SanDisk, but this is new...  OK, my mind is made up, the phone looks sweet.

Speaking of San Disk they rolled out a Ducati SD card last year that has a USB thing on it when bent in half. I haven't seen it since.

i have that scan disk! i must say it is fast!

But in my opinion  ...

Ducati is whoring out their brand WAY too much... Scan Disk, Sony, Burton snowboards, Tumi backpack, oakley shades... etc. What is next? quick release red tampons with a race stripe? they should keep the branding to RELEVANT products. I understand the design thing... like porsche... but that was all in house. not co-brand. but then again this opinion could be why i never got that job at DNA... 

Looks better than my plain Motorola Black + Silver so I give it  

Quote from: Dareduc on May 28, 2008, 10:22:27 PM
Ducati is whoring out their brand WAY too much...

I do agree with you on that point... But I still want the phone 

I think the "branding-mania" they seem to be on started when their sales were down and they were trying to bump up their brand recognition.  Their sales are through the roof now and I certainly hope their marketing department takes it down a notch.  No need to water down such a strong marque.  But, when it comes to money, look what it's done for HD.  They arguably make more $$$ on selling merch than they do on bikes.

I shudder the thought of seeing a Ducati store in an airport in Houston some day.  Today's NASCAR Dad could be tomorrow's Ducati Dad.   

If they have them with AT&T I'd get it... I like cool phones. 

Quote from: Dareduc on May 28, 2008, 10:22:27 PM
Ducati is whoring out their brand WAY too much...

Everything these days is about marketing & promotion.
I remember the first Indy movie coming out, you were excited to see a commercial. Now I can't watch a NBA game, A NASCAR race or an old episode of a Thundercats cartoon without Indy swinging threw a scene... Oh well...

I like it. Wouldn't seek it out or use it to make a decision based on performance. But, if it equaled another one I was interested in, and the price wasn't too different, I'd choose it.

Looks cool, want one

it's rubbish.
what i really, really really want is a sony ericson themed ducati.

*coughs* Harley... *coughs*

Anyways. Looks good -- Is that a 1098 w/ no fairings on it?
Should I even just suggest, that is marketings hint at a naked 1098? (just being a little facetious here...)

Quote from: wbeck257 on May 29, 2008, 05:16:16 AM
*coughs* Harley... *coughs*

Anyways. Looks good -- Is that a 1098 w/ no fairings on it?
Should I even just suggest, that is marketings hint at a naked 1098? (just being a little facetious here...)

Interesting thought... I was actually trying to figure out what bike that was and came to the same conclusion.  Hmm... Yea, it's a stretch, but I wonder.

question is ... is the DucPhone superior to the BatPhone? hmm.

Old economy companies:
Take raw materials, apply the power of labor to them to produce goods and create wealth.

New economy companies:
Create surface areas that you can plaster with advertising and/or logos to create wealth.

I'll have to dig up the annual report Ducati put out a few years back, but they were trying to move their business model towards Harley's: Use brand loyalty to cash in on their logo.

Why? The margins on T-shirts / logo items are a lot higher than the margins on motorcycles. Just ask Harley, as they make the bulk of their income off their brand name, not bikes.

Quote from: stef on May 29, 2008, 04:43:59 AM
it's rubbish.
what i really, really really want is a sony ericson themed ducati.

What I really, really really want is a Ducati themed Treo.