Vertu - an expensive dud?

Apparently only 1,000 Vertu handsets will go on sale. Potential buyers may be very disappointed as sadly these handsets are already obsolete.

For example, the screen is a "high resolution illuminated graphical dynamic display offering 128 x 160 pixels". No mention of the word "colour", though.

Plus - how do you link your virtue to your PC? Bluetooth? No. Infra-red? No. USB?

No. 9.6 Kbit/s serial cable? Er, yes.

Considering these handsets start at €6,000 and rise to €24,000 you'd have thought they'd offer absolutely top notch specifications.

The company has, however, secured plush premises to sell the devices in London's Old Bond Street and New York's Madison Avenue. You can even request a private viewing via the Web site.

About the only unique feature we could spot is a facility called "Concierge" which is French for janitor. There's a dedicated Concierge button on the Vertu handset (reminiscent of the i-mode button on Japanese handsets) which launches the owner onto a help service which, amongst the other handy duties it can perform, is book your appointment at the spa.

These handsets might be made from precious metals and hand tooled leather but will they cut much ice with the monied classes? The jury's out.

www.vertu.com