Nokia has formally announced its 8800 Arte and 8800 Sapphire Arte mobile phones, bringing Nokia’s 3G connectivity capabilities to a bling-enabled handset distinctly aimed at high-fashion and trendy-spendy circles. With the 8800 Arte phones, Nokia tries to combine elegant appearance and high-end craftsmanship with the full functionality of Nokia’s 3G handsets.
"These two new handsets set the benchmark for quality and craftsmanship," sid Nokia’s senior VP for mobile phones Heikki Norta, in a statement. "The high-end materials and seamless surfaces are pleasing to touch while the sophisticated, minimalistic design is equally satisfying to the eyes. An obsessive attention to detail means that the Nokia 8800 Arte and Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte are engineered to last."
As a phone, the slider-style 8800 offers a 2-inch QVGA LCD display (along with an external OLED display), a 3.2 megapixel camera, 1 GB of user memory, and 3G connectivity features. The casing and glass feature an anti-fingerprint coating, and the phones feature an innovative mute feature that can be activated just by turning the phone over, screen down.
Nokia is also appealing to the stylish set by including a unique soundtrack for the devices produced by Kruder & Dorfmeister with visuals by Fritz Fitzke.
Each phone will ship with the Noia BH-803 Bluetooth headset, a separate matching desk stand, and a linen-lined leather pouch. The 8800 Arte should carry a price of €1000 before taxes and subsidies; the 8800 Sapphire Arte—which adds a genuine sapphire gem and leather accents—will run about €1150. Both phones should be available in the first quarter of 2008.
