Nokia reveals upscale 8800 Arte 3G handsets

Nokia today upgraded its longstanding designer phones with the release of the 8800 Arte. The special edition of the slider handset increases the perceived quality with an actual sapphire in the directional pad and leather trim on the bottom shell; each also includes a BH-803 Bluetooth headset as well as a leather pouch and a color-coordinated charging stand. As with some Nokia special editions, the Arte models also come with custom audio and videos. Downtempo electronic artists Kruder & Dorfmeister provide music while visual artist Fritz Fitzke creates the visual element, the company says.

The Arte largely shares its roots in the already high-end 8800 line, which includes a 3.2-megapixel camera, 1GB of built-in storage, and a full-color OLED display. The design is also just as subtle as the original with a fingerprint-resistant coating, a silent slider mechanism, and the ability to silence the ringer just by turning the phone upside-down. Nokia builds the handset primarily with the European market in mind with 3G provided on a Europe-only HSDPA connection and tri-band GSM calls, and intends to ship the flagship 8800 in a black Arte version for 1,000 Euros ($1,460) before the end of the year and a brown Sapphire Arte model in early 2008 for 1,150 Euros ($1,679).