Telecommunications

Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition

Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition
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April 11, 2006 Marketing partnerships make sense, particularly if the brands complement each other. Which is why two of the world's most aspirational brands in Aston Martin and Nokia have collaborated to create the Nokia 8800. This exclusive iteration of the Nokia's flagship 8800 will be manufactured in strictly limited numbers, and features a discrete laser-etched 'Aston Martin' logo on the stainless steel casing. This is complemented by the words so synonymous with Aston Martin, 'Power, Beauty & Soul’, etched into the Nokia 8800's unique stand-alone charging station, plus elegantly-designed packaging bearing the Aston Martin wings.

The Nokia 8800 is an elegant combination of the best quality materials and high technology. Beautifully proportioned, the Nokia 8800 feels right in the hand, whether open or closed. The slender stainless steel slider case has a weighty, machined feel, with the polished and brushed metal casing, juxtaposed with surgical-quality resin and finished with processes usually used in watch-making, offering a uniquely tactile experience. The bistable spring mechanism used in the sliding feature, which opens to reveal a concealed camera, uses ball-bearings more commonly found in high-performance cars, appropriately enough. Sliding open the phone is a precise and smooth movement and takes just a fraction of a second. The colour display is protected by a specially toughened glass screen, adding to the premium feel.

The Technology

The Nokia 8800 is a tri-band mobile telephone, offering a full colour 208 x 208 pixel display, complete with SVGA camera that offers both image and movie functions. In addition, the Nokia 8800 provides a digital music player (capable of playing both AAC and MP3 formats) with 64MB of internal memory. The Nokia 8800's Bluetooth connectivity will synchronise with all Aston Martin models, allowing for easy operation through the car’s centre console and safe and convenient hands-free calling.

In addition to the Nokia 8800's standard ring tones, which were created for the phone by award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition comes loaded with a selection of exclusive Aston Martin content, including a short documentary film, striking wallpapers featuring the company's current range, a screensaver based on the famous crystal starter button found in all Aston Martin models, and ring tones that sample the evocative roar of the Vantage's (380 horsepower) V8 engine.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin’s history dates back to 1914, establishing itself as a technical pioneer in the early days of motor racing. In the post-war era the company became famous for the 'DB' series of high performance saloons. Today, Aston Martin is a thoroughly modern manufacturer, with a range of the most technologically advanced performance cars currently available. From the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, introduced in 2005, to the V12-engined DB9 and DB9 Volante, to the flagship Vanquish S, Aston Martin continues to embody the values of power, beauty and soul. The company's established low-volume, high quality manufacturing tradition has been preserved and enhanced by the a creation of a cutting edge manufacturing facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire, and the unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture that underpins the V8 Vantage and DB9 models provides a solid base upon which future models can be developed.

The company's strong sporting heritage, now embodied in the DBR9 GT racing car, is combined with elegant design and unparalleled attention to detail. From the flowing, understated bodywork to the cosseting interiors, Aston Martin's range continues to epitomise the marriage of form, function and material. Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer says that 'the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition demonstrates the same attention to detail as our range of cars; it is an ideal complement to the brand.'

Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility. Founded in Finland in the middle of the nineteenth century, the company grew from forestry and rubber products to embrace electricity generation and cabling. By the late 60s it dominated electronics production in Finland, but gradually focused on telecommunications, delivering its first car phone in 1981 and Finland's first GSM network in 1989. By 1998 it was a global leader, pioneering technologies like colour screens and camera phones.

In 1998, Nokia established an entirely new consumer category with the introduction of the Nokia 8810, the company’s first 'premium' mobile phone. Combining high quality materials and design, The Nokia 8810 found an immediate audience with connoisseurs of quality and taste. Subsequent models, including the aluminium-sheathed Nokia 8850 and its companion the Nokia 8890, introduced new materials and design innovations. In 2002, the Nokia 8910 featured a special mechanism that slowly opened to unveil a colour screen – the company’s first model with a colour screen.

The Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition will cost £800 excluding VAT in the UK and is available now from Aston Martin Dealers or the Aston Martin web site.

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