Aston Martin and Nokia have joined forces to produce a limited edition version of the Finnish company's top-model 8800 tri-band cellphone. It features a laser-etched 'Aston Martin' logo on the stainless steel casing, and etched into the Nokia 8800's unique stand-alone charging station are the words now synonymous with Aston Martin; 'Power, Beauty & Soul’.

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 operation through the car’s centre console and hands-free calling.

The Nokia 8800 features a slender stainless steel slider case with a weighty, machined feel. The polished and brushed metal casing is juxtaposed with surgical-quality resin, and finished with processes usually used in watch-making. Sliding open the phone (using the bistable spring mechanism with its ball-bearing runners) is a precise and smooth movement that takes just a fraction of a second. The colour display is protected by a specially toughened glass screen, adding to the premium feel.



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, 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 roar of the V8 Vantage's (380 horsepower) V8 engine.

The Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition will cost £800 excluding VAT. It is available now from Aston Martin Dealers and via www.astonmartin.com.

Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Aston Martin