Vertu's overpriced Signature S Design gets hands-on treatment

We won't lie -- we've always been harsh on Vertu handsets. As a rule, they're technologically inferior to handsets that are a twelfth the price, and honestly, they're usually pretty unsightly. But you know, Boy Genius Report's hands-on experience with the stainless steel Signature S Design really has us back on the fence. Sure, it's the price of a decent subcompact, but man, it's as sleek as sleek could ever hope to be. Have a look in the read link for a hands-on gallery that's sure to make you envious -- whether you're willing to admit it or not.

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Vertu's Constellation Pure series is like every other Constellation: drab and overpriced

Seriously Vertu -- we have zero qualms with you charging €6,800 ($8,574) for a handset, but could you at least work in a little innovation next time? At first glance, the new Constellation Pure lineup looks like every other Constellation ever produced by the luxury phone maker, and it's not until you read that they're built from steel, leather and ceramics that you realize something's different. The set is expected to hit the market soon in white, black and silver, each of which will be limited to 2,500 units. We hear these things aren't half bad at making calls, either, but you know it's that iconic "V" logo you're really dropping the Euros for.

[Via Sybarites]

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Vertu's Ascent Ti Damascus Steel makes being wealthy slightly more stylish

Stainless steel's great, but there's a very simple problem with the alloy that's plagued mankind for hundreds of years: it doesn't have any pattern on it. Happily, that's easily solved with a quick trip to Vertu's British headquarters, where master craftsmen are hard at work hand-carving designs into exactly 100 copies of the company's new Ascent Ti Damascus Steel -- just the latest in a long line of five-figure handsets with two-figure functionality. Yes, true, the Ascent Ti series features 3G, but even that isn't enough to justify the kidneys and other organs you'll have to sell (or the pittance you'll have to withdraw from the trust fund, depending on your lifestyle) to become the proud owner of one of these. Is it seriously time to upgrade the Ferrari version already?

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BlackBerry Storm comes to Vodafone today -- take cover immediately

Just how badly do you want a Storm? Badly enough to pull up your long-established roots, fly for half a day, and take residence in a foreign land thousands of miles from home? For Americans who absolutely cannot wait another week for RIM's first touchscreen device to launch on domestic soil, that's the only option; for Brits on Vodafone, though, heaven is but a single shop trip away. The BlackBerry Storm has now officially launched in the Old Country and can be had for as little as zilch on a Voda plan, so do let us know how your experiences go, yeah? Your yankee friends thank you in advance.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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HP's iPAQ Voice Messenger on sale on Vodafone UK

We have a sneaking suspicion most Vodafone faithful have been focusing on other matters, but those who've kept HP's iPAQ Voice Messenger in the front of their mind can finally celebrate. Yep, the Windows Mobile-based smartphone -- which is about as "all-business" as they come, might we add -- is finally available for order at Vodafone UK. It can be claimed right now for anywhere between free and £85.11 ($126) depending on plan.

[Via coolsmartphone]

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Rogers offers up HP's iPAQ 910c Business Manager for $249.99

If you've been holding off on picking up a new WinMo handset on Rogers, today just might be your lucky day. You know, if you're totally in love with HP's iPAQ 910c Business Manager. Said Canadian carrier is offering up this here phone for $249.99 (down from $399.99) on a 3-year contract, but for those who despise red tape, you can snag it off-contract for $499.99. As for specs, it sports Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, built-in GPS, WiFi, a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution touchscreen, a full QWERTY keyboard, a microSD card slot, three megapixel camera (with video recording possibilities) and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. So, is it business time, or what?

[Via IntoMobile]

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HP triumphantly returns to AT&T with iPAQ K3 "Obsidian"

Tears well up in our eyes when we think back to the early days of Windows Mobile and HP's dominance; in recent years, the company has all but vanished from the scene, trudging along with a handful of poorly-marketed, underexposed devices that haven't launched on any US carrier. Turns out we haven't said our last goodbyes, though, because the iPAQ K3 -- codenamed "Obsidian," seemingly -- is scheduled for November 30 retail availability on AT&T. The device would launch with Windows Mobile 6.5 onboard and feature a 2 megapixel camera (a second cameraless version for high-security businessfolk might be available, too), 256MB of RAM, a half gig of ROM, microSD slot, GPS, triband HSDPA and quadband EDGE, WiFi, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a QVGA display to complement the full QWERTY keyboard. Looks like it won't be the most exciting smartphone on the carrier's shelves, but it might be a sensible choice for businesses and really, really boring people. Follow the break for a couple renders of the phone in action-packed angle shots!

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