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The Maybach of phones... Or maybe not? I saw it at Heathrow and was impressed by the quality but not the features... I purchased this Vertu in November of 2002 at the now defunct Beverly Hills Boutique. Since then, the phone has traveled with me around the world, and been used in Asia, Europe, and of course the USA. The first question that everyone probably wants to ask is: “Is this phone worth the obscene amount of money that it costs?!?!” Sorry to disappoint, but the answer is “NO”…that is of course unless money truly is no object to you. The phone would perfectly compliment the consumer who only flies chartered, and who is chauffeured around in the back of a Maybach 62. But to those of us who work for their money, this is something that you can do without. Read more, and you’ll see why.
I’m a 24-year-old entrepreneur, who has always had a thing for the newest and coolest gadgets. So naturally when the phone was announced, I waited with baited breath until the actual release. So on a brisk November morning, I drove down to Beverly Hills, and decided to purchase the MMII in stainless steel. The total cost was $6995 plus tax. I chose this model because it is less flashy than gold or platinum, and I thought that the steel finish would be more durable. I also tried to justify the purchase of the phone by the fact that it can be completely upgraded to newer technologies due to its modular design. (This however, has yet to be seen, as I’m still waiting for Bluetooth, etc..) After spending about an hour being “fondled” by the staff, I walked out holding a heavy black box filled with goodies.
Opening the box at home, I was greeted by boxes within boxes. The outer box contained 4 boxes. One was a beautiful “Piano Finish” black box, which contained the handset. Magnets keep it together, and the phone rests inside in its own snug leatherette compartment. The other 3 boxes consist of a pack of manuals about the phone, concierge service, CD-Rom, a box containing four charger adapters for various plugs around the world, and the last box containing the hands free headset, battery, key, and data cable.
After charging the phone for 3 hours, I installed the SIM card, removing the case back with the enclosed key. Powering on, I was greeted by the words “VERTU”, and then the standard Nokia-type interface, with an analog clock as the background. Initial impressions were that the phone is very well built. It is quite heavy, but feels very ergonomically comfortable in your hand. I wasn’t impressed with the leather sides of the phone, as I felt it would have been better if it were finished entirely in steel. I thought it looked “fragile”, and didn’t know whether it would be able to survive rigorous use. Aside from the stainless steel panels, the phone earpiece and back cover are made of new age ceramic, similar to Rado watches. It is a scratchproof and very durable material. Very very cool…
Perhaps the coolest feature of the phone is the concierge service. Activated by pressing a button on the right side of the phone, it dials up to their service center in Great Britain, and a concierge with a nice British accent picks up the phone. This feature works anywhere there is GSM coverage. For those of you who travel frequently and like to be pampered, this feature in itself would make the phone a worthwhile purchase. Benefits include VIP status at many of the leading hotels in the world, reservations at clubs and exclusive restaurants, as well as many other similar features. (Services are similar to those offered by AMEX Centurion card members.) I’ve used it to book last minute reservations at nice restaurants, and the service helped me plan my last vacation to HK. Don’t get too attached to the service though, as after the 12-month complimentary period of service, you’ll have to pay to play. (Somehow they gave me 2 years of coverage, but I suspect its because they have not set a pricing schedule yet.) Although not set yet, the manual says expect to pay around $800 USD or more, depending on the exchange rate for each additional year of the concierge. Unless you really really need the service, I would advise to probably pass.
Voice quality on the phone is good. There is some sort of ultra high-end speaker in the phone, which is supposed to be much better than normal speakers, but to tell you the truth, it just sounds about the same as any other modern phone. The only exception is that it is VERY VERY loud in the highest setting. The speakerphone is on the back, and works very well. It seems to support full duplex operation, and is quite clear. I’d also like to point out that the small retractable antenna actually does improve signal strength. At least 1-2 bars. The hands free adapter works well too. The mic is built into the earpiece, and works well just about anywhere.
Don’t expect any games here. The only menu choices on the Vertu are Messages, Call Register, Profiles, Settings, Call Divert, and Agenda. Everything functions like a Nokia, right down to the menu selections. There are a few ring tones, and they all sound more “elegant” as opposed to the standard Nokia ones. You can hear them on the Mobile-review.com’s mini-preview. With these observations, I grabbed the phone and headed to the airport for a business trip to China.
Now lets fast forward a year and change to today……..
The phone still works perfectly. Since I bought it, there has since been an upgrade to a color screen. It was a software upgrade, done via the data cable. Although not adding any functionality, it does make my $7000 purchase more palatable. The Vertu staff has been very helpful, and even overnighted me manuals and literature when I lost my set. Absolutely top notch service. One aspect that I’m a bit disappointed about is the finish of the phone itself. The steel part scratches quite easily and I’ve gotten quite a few small scratches on the left side of the phone. This is from keeping the phone in the glove compartment of my car. Also, I’ve noticed that the latch on the back panel gets loose on one side, and does not sit 100% flush anymore. I’ve called Vertu, and they quoted a 2-week turnaround time to fix it, at a cost of around $250. I think part of the cost has to do with the fact that all service is done in their UK office, so the phone has to be physically sent to the UK for any sort of adjustment. Of course I’m a bit disappointed by these problems, but I must say that it has performed quite admirably in its year plus of service. Battery life is quite short, as I’ve gotten max about 3-5 hours of talk time out of it. I’d buy a car charger, but there still is not one available yet, and I’m scared to ask how much an extra battery will cost!
All in all, I see this phone as the ultimate status symbol. It boasts no cutting edge features, yet it commands attention everywhere. It performs what it does well, and I guess you should expect that from a phone of this price. I will keep you guys updated as time goes on, and new features are added. Also, feel free to ask me any questions, and I’d be happy to answer them.
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