Vertu Constellation: an 'affordable' luxury phone

Nokia launched the luxury Vertu label with the intent of catering to the most affluent cellphone users possible: those whose phones are as much status symbols as they are hotbeds of technology. To date, the Vertu models have used materials as exotic as diamonds, ruling out all but the wealthiest customers. That will change soon with the introduction of the Constellation line, pictures and details of which have appeared in advance of the official announcement. The Constellation will be Vertu's entry-level phone with a (relatively) subdued level of luxury. Depending on budget and tastes, buyers will have their choice of either gold or steel for the outer shell and multiple choices of leather for the back. One concession to the truly exotic is a screen with a sapphire crystal scratchproof layer. Click through for the phone capabilities themselves and profile photos.

Underneath the expensive design is a very capable, though not spectacular, quad-band GSM phone. It features EDGE and GPRS data support alongside Bluetooth and a 262,000-color screen. It should use the latest Nokia OS and includes business software. Vertu will be ready to announce the Constellation within a few weeks, with a release window scheduled in October.