Nokia has unveiled a premium pair of handsets aimed at the most discerning and style-conscious consumers. The new 8800 Arte and 8800 Sapphire Arte bring 3G capabilities to the highly acclaimed Nokia 8800 series which features an elegant and sophisticated design theme that takes inspiration from nature and sets it apart from the crowd. The 8800 Arte will start shipping in the fourth quarter of 2007 with an estimated retail price of 1000 EUR before taxes and subsidies. The 8800 Sapphire Arte will follow in the first quarter of 2008 and retail for approximately 1150 EUR before taxes and subsidies.
“These two new handsets set the benchmark for quality and craftsmanship,” said Heikki Norta, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “The high-end materials and seamless surfaces are pleasing to touch while the sophisticated, minimalistic design is equally satisfying to the eyes. An obsessive attention to detail means that the 8800 Arte and 8800 Sapphire Arte are engineered to last.” Â
On the surface, the seamless metal and glass body gives the 8800 Arte and 8800 Sapphire Arte an incomparable sense of style, while under the skin their hearts are driven by pure innovation. By tapping the steel surface below the display, an analogue clock appears – indicating time in its most classic form. Incoming calls on a Nokia Arte handset can be silenced gracefully with the “turn-to-mute” feature – allowing owners to quiet their phone inconspicuously by simply turning over the phone, screen-side down.
Other state-of-the-art features include 2.0″ QVGA 240×320 pixels, OLED display with up to 16 mln colors; 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera with 8x digital zoom; 1 GB built in memory; microUSB all-in-one-connector; anti-fingerprint coating on metal and glass.
Both models feature a high-end metal and glass composition, creating their classic, iconic style. A smooth slide mechanism – comprised of state-of-the art ball bearings and a unique spring mechanism – ensures each handset is a pleasure to touch and behold. The Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte adds to the sense of exclusivity by further enhancing its polished steel case with a genuine sapphire gem stone and an accent of soft leather, creating an even more rich, sensual feel.
Each handset comes with an assortment of mobile accessories that include the BH-803 Bluetooth headset with Active Noise Cancellation and touch sensitive volume adjustment, a leather pouch with a linen-lining and a separate matching desk stand.
