UPDATE: The Porsche Design P’9522 Black, the latest in the company’s series of mobile phones, held its global launch in Singapore, where, for now, only the 1,600 or so drivers of Porsche cars in the affluent city state can buy it from the car dealership, Stuttgart Auto. Retailing for a price of 2,280 Singapore dollars ($1,636), this phone is sure to be the new symbol of luxury and opulence in Singapore. [Reuters]

Porsche Design has sent out details about a new edition of the mobile phone the firm released on the open market last year. The P’9522 Black Edition will be available by the end of the month, and was created in-house at the design firm’s R&D facility in Austria.

The Black Edition has a combination of matt, black anodized aluminum and black mineral glass that particularly emphasizes the straight lines and purist form of the second Porsche Design cell phone. The casing is milled from a block of solid aluminum.

Black has characterized us from the start, said Porsche Design Group CEO Dr. Juergen Gessler. He notes that the company’s first release was a purpose-built all-black wristwatch. As is typical for Porsche Design, the black has a functional background: the Chronograph I is derived from the appearance of the non-reflective instruments used in racing cars, in which everything right down to the instruments is matte black. This avoids unwanted reflections and guarantees easy readability.

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The P’9522 Black Edition cell phone stands out due to its elegant design in combination with innovative functions, modern communications technology and excellent sound and image reproduction. The cell phone also has a sensor that reads fingerprints, guaranteeing that access to personal information is secure. Shortcuts can also be configured.

The P’9522 Black Edition will be available soon anywhere Porsche Design products are sold.