Vertu Signature S Design Hands on
What, you didn’t see this coming? While the global economy is suffering, Vertu keeps on launching their high-end mobile phones to the world’s richest customers. While they used to be featureless handsets, they’ve now become current, and what used to be expensive, is still… expensive. Let’s look at the brand new Vertu Signature we just got in our office. It’s the stainless steel model, and is made of sapphire crystal, fine leather, and of course, stainless steel. Its got 3G (only the 850MHz and 2100MHz WCDMA band), Wi-Fi, and an OLED display. Definitely some things that keep these devices in play, tech-wise at least. Since Vertu is an off-shoot of Nokia, all up-to-date Vertus run a customized version of the Series 40 OS (we have heard Vertu is working on a PDA, but nothing has materialized yet). Still, at a retail price of $12,500, who’s going to buy this? The old answer used to be someone who can appreciate the finer things in life, just as someone would spend $80,000 on a watch, they’d have no problem dropping $12,000 on a phone. Right? Well, times have changed. This isn’t 2004 when people were rockin’ RAZRs as the new hot thing and had a pretty limited selection of smartphones. If you think about it the world is pretty topsy turvy. There’s BlackBerrys with cameras, Apple makes a cell phone, HTC makes Android devices, and Sony Ericsson makes a Windows Mobile phone. So where is the market for this Signature? We’d say its smaller than ever thanks to the popularity of smartphones that actually work and then obviously the economy. There’s no doubt this is Vertu’s finest model, it sure as heck feels like it. We’re just not so sure people are that interested in this day and age. Unless we’re talking about that Vertu Ascent Ti Ferrari Nero, then well, that’s another story…
Click on over to our Vertu Signature S Design hands on gallery!
Hard to imagine spending that kind of dough… BUT… I guess if you want to ditch your Blackberry for the evening but still want the babysitter to be able to reach you oh…. and have an extra $12k lying around then what the heck!
Looks like an outdated candybar phone to me!
I can’t see myself spending so much money for a phone that doesn’t have smartphone features.
Yeah but the price of “status symbols” never has much to do with function. It’s just a pissing war to show how much you can afford to waste.
I’d love to know how many people have actually seen these things in the wild, and how the economics make sense on either side of the transaction. Can’t be any volume to speak of, so even at these insane prices the entire brand is like a loss leader. I’ve seen these phones written about and in pictures in magazines and on the Web and the only reaction that seems to make sense is this:
Why?
I had a customer come into my at&t store with a Vertu brochure while looking at one of our iPhone display models. He was deciding which to go with (if that makes any sense). I asked why the Vertu & he tells me “it’ll go nice with my new Ferrari.” ugh! Meanwhile I’m jumping into my Honday Civic LOL
@Graham: I’m pretty sure we Crackberry users would never “ditch” our beloved LOL.
it better do something special for that price
“Still, at a retail price of $12,500, who’s going to buy this?”
no 1 u kno bcuz yuz po BGigga…
I need at least a LITTLE function with my form! And that thing is UG-LY! The only Vertu I can appreciate at all, from a design standpoint, is the Constellation. That’s their cheapest phone.
I guess if you’re stepping off your G-V jet in Cannes and need to scream at your staff at your mansion back in the Hamptons, and you’re going for that all-or-none pretention, nothing screams “jackass” like a Vertu.
For 12k does this phone come with a lifetime of unlimited minutes, data, and text?
Worthless piece of a status symbol.
love the /arrogance
Long Live BGR
I bet they sell a few dozen of these to Citibank execs. I hear they just came into some easy money.
now thats funny
It´s not the handset itself that´s special, the “vertu concierge” service with dedicated button is the thing (for “haves” and “havemores”).
It looks like a cross between a Cadillac CTS and a TV Remote.
Like a handjob?
ugly because you can’t afford it?
There are plenty of other high-end mobiles that actually do stuff now. The new bling is features.
The Concierge Service is the only intriguing feature of Vertu phones IMHO. And if you have a platinum AMEX card you get a similar service. Just put the AMEX service on your speed dial list and you have pretty much the same thing as the Vertu service. Use a Gold RAZR2 and it’s even more stylish than the hideous Vertu, yet it retains some of the pretentious appearance users are seeking. Plus, with a RAZR you can slam it shut to end a call, adding some much needed over-dramatic flair to your conversation. Nice, huh?
This phone should be able to teleport you where every you want whenever you want for that price.
No mail in rebate?
Nokia sells a couple hundred thousand Vertus a year and it’s one of their most profitable units – they get great margins on those handsets.
What’s even more insane is that even in this economy, the Signature S has sold out practically everywhere. I’ve been in 5 different stores in 4 different countries and they’re all out of stock!!?
I just saw one on craigslist for 800.
12.000 $?! Do you get a car with this phone? Lol …anyway this just proves how sick and distorted our society is! Whats next? Toilet that has a hd tv in it, so you can watch it, while making yourself throw up 2k dollars meal¿ (i took that from the GTA iv, but nevertheless…) or that guy that has a room thats the size of my apartment just to open PRESENTS in it! You know, those guys that buy these stuff have a SERIOUS value disorders. They have been so much indoctrinated by tis sick culture that its, its… I just can’t wrap my head around it
Peple work very hard to be able to afford those things you are talking about.
Its not all roses for us. Money doesnt just fall into our laps and the media’s portayal of city execs is shameful.
I work 72 hour weeks and most weekends are tied up with reports and to put the icing on the cake our bonuses have just been capped. We deserve everything that we have, even if it is somewhat overpriced because lots of us have sacrificed a family and social life to become the ‘big shots’ that we are. We fear this economic downturn more than anyone else because who will employ a washed up city boy in the future. Dont think that our “huge” severance packages will keep us in cigars and cognac until our old age because we are taxed as much as half.
Written by a tired and wornout citibank employee