Vertu, a luxury division of Nokia, has formally announced the existence of its most accessible phone to date. The Constellation is described by the firm as a simpler alternative to the more extravagant Ascent and Signature handsets. The announcement confirms earlier details about the device, including a European leather back, a gold or satin steel body, and a sapphire crystal screen that Vertu claims is scratch-resistant.

Technical details have been similarly verified in the release. As noted in an early review, the Constellation keeps Vertu's existing Concierge service, a special hotline for owners who want to make reservations or arrange travel regardless of which coverage area they live in. The phone proper is a quad-band GSM device with a Bluetooth 2.0 receiver, audio/video playback, and Internet access through either GPRS or EDGE. No pricing is listed for the general public, but the luxury-oriented stores to which the Constellation is now shipping (Bang & Olufsen and jewellers are amongst them) betray its premium price.