Nokia Makes the Ferrari of Phones...Literally

Limited-edition Ascent Ferrari phones are as sleek as sports cars, and similarly pricey.

Mon, November 12, 2007 — IDG News Service — If you thought the iPhone was overpriced, stop reading now.

Nokia’s Vertu subsidiary is selling a $25,400 phone in shops in Paris, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Ascent Ferrari 60 was created to commemorate sports-car maker Ferrari’s 60th anniversary. The phones are hand assembled using stainless steel and titanium components, as well as leather from authentic Ferrari suppliers, says Elizabeth Maragh, a Vertu spokeswoman.

In accord with the 60th anniversary theme, only 60 phones have been produced.

Vertu's $25,400 Ascent Ferrari 60 phone

Vertu has been selling the Ascent Ferrari 60 for several months now, alongside another Ferrari-inspired phone called Ascent Ferrari 1947 Limited Edition.

Both phones feature the Ferrari prancing horse logo and take design cues from the sports cars. (No steering wheel but it’s pretty sleek.)

But who would spend $25,400 on a phone?

Someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship, Maragh says. “The Vertu phones are very much based on craftsmanship and unique materials. All of our phones are handmade and we go to great lengths to choose materials that we feel are the highest quality possible. A lot of people who buy our phones appreciate these things in life.”

“A lot of people” reportedly includes Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and Catherine Deneuve.

In other words, just plain folk.

Incidentally, anyone hoping to save a few thousand bucks by waiting for Vertu to suddenly slash prices (as Apple recently did with its iPhone) for the gift-giving season is probably waiting in vain. According to Maragh, a holiday price cut is unlikely.

Nokia

Loading...
Mobile MarketSpace
Retooling IT for a Mobile Workforce
Check out this research note from IDC for guidance. Learn more »
The Continued Evolution of Wireless Mobility
Learn about the two leading 4G technologies, the current status of deployed 4G networks, and how to manage long-term 4G costs Learn more »
Thinking About Deploying Mobile Broadband?
Explore lessons and best practices experienced by companies that have deployed mobile broadband to their workforce. Learn more »
Improving Healthcare Delivery with Role-Enabled Communications
Today, more healthcare IT organizations than ever are interested in implementing UC applications in a planned, cost effective manner. In order to meet their tremendous potential for improved healthcare delivery requires far more than UC; it requires role-enabled communications. Learn more »
Mobility Enables True Unified Communications
Deploying UC in conjunction with a mobility solution can increase employee productivity and improve customer service enabling workers to more easily collaborate from disparate locations. Learn more »
Making Consumer TwoFactor Authentication Cost-Effective
Offering your customers the security of two-factor authentication can help you boost your online business. Learn more »
Solve Five Key IT Security Challenges
Get a high level of security with minimal user impact. Learn more »
 
SPONSORED LINKS
 

Top 10 Lessons Learned for Corporate 3G Mobile Broadband Deployments

Mobile Security: The Essential Ingredient for Today's Enterprise

White Paper: Legacy Tools: Not Built for the Helpdesk

Learn how to maximize the mobile web opportunity

Upgrading to VMware vSphere with vWire

Maximizing website Return on Information with high-quality search

See how AT&T can help protect your network.

Webcast: Unleashing the Power of Customer Data

White Paper: Improve Agility with Operational Responsiveness

Taking a Seat at the Executive Table: The Reality of Virtualization

White Paper: Next Generation Remote Infrastructure Management

Keeping Your Members Safe from Online Scams and Predators

The Total Economic Impact of Network Security Intrusion Prevention

Generation Remote Infrastructure Management - Changing the Paradigm

Cloud-Based Email Management: Opinion Shifts In Favor

eBook: How Can You Make Your People Productive Anywhere?

Achieving Business Agility with Application Grid

Taking the Service Desk to the Next Level

Learn about The Information Technology Infrastructure Library.

Return on Information: Google Enterprise Search pays you back. Get the facts.

VMware. The source for Business Infrastructure Virtualization.

ShoreTel tells businesses to untangle from competitors' complexity and turn to its brilliantly simple UC solution

Top Five CIO Challenges

Read the RSA report: Security for Business Innovation

64-page prescriptive guide to security, compliance, and IT operations.

4G Revisited. The Continued Evolution of Wireless Mobility.

White Paper: 5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support

Five-Step Mobility Management Plan

White Paper: Visibility and the New Normal of Mobile Work

Return on Information: Google Enterprise Search pays you back

Cut Costs & Green Your IT Operations with PC Power Management

White Paper: 4 Customer Service Myths

White Paper: Managed Security for a Not-So-Secure World

Global Research: CIOs Weigh In On Virtualization

5 Key Virtualization Management Challenges

Secure Email and Web-Based Communication from Evolving Attacks

WagerWorks Takes Fraudsters Out of the Game using iovation

Seven Design Requirements for Web 2.0 Threat Protection

Increase UPS efficiency without sacrificing protection.

Learn how advanced forecasting tools can deliver significant business results for global corporations.

Lower IT Costs with Oracle Database 11g Release 2

Ready to virtualize tier one applications? Check your virtualization maturity.

Seven Ways ITIL Can Help You in an Economic Downturn

Tips for successful virtualization management.

AT&T Synaptic Storage as a Service. Expand on demand

Trend Micro ranked #1 against real-world malware. Read more.

Webinar: Jump-start your in-house e-discovery with Ringtail QuickCull from FTI Technology

Streamline IT Costs. Boost Performance with WAN Optimization.

Build your 1st app FREE with Force.com

TDWI checklist helps define data readiness for analytics. Download report.

 
 
RESOURCE CENTER