Just throwing this out to those in the know- will RIM ever build a higher end device for those with bigger budgets and matching desires for a quality (ie not made of cheap self-destructing, creaky plastic parts) device? I'm not even so concerned with the features- they do a pretty good job with the existing models although they appear to be painfully slow and delayed at times. But the build quality I find to be unbelievable bad.

Is there a Vertu-esque Blackberry in the works?

I don't think they will or at least planned, however, there are gold and blackberries somewhere (just do a google), and just look out for Paris Hilton, if they do have an exclusive bb out, she will be the first to get it, as she seems to become the face of blackberry now.

i think the concept is not to make a great device so you replace it yearly. I have been getting a new one every year or so. It will get to a point in the future when phones will be disposable, bendable.

Manufacturers need work. Dont expect a device that lasts much beyond 24 to 36 months

RIM's focus has always been on corporate users. That means IT Departments and budgets. The general consumer Blackberry like the Pearl and Curve have been around only for the last couple of years and still remain secondary to the corporate user in RIM's business plan. I don't think they're going to devote the resources to create a high end luxury model when their core customers are focused on completely different areas.

I myself am fairly impressed with the quality of recent Blackberrys. My Curve and 8800 are both rock solid in build quality as well as with software stability. If you're so tough on your Blackberrys that you find yourself replacing them often you might consider a ruggedized solution like an Otter Box.

Don't be fooled by Vertu phones. They are just Nokia's in fancy clothes!! I don't fancy spending all that on something that is basically a 6230i

Though I would love the Formula 1 handsets. Not spending £3000 on one though :(

you can always contact jacob the jewler. i here he does good work.

You must have really low standards dude! I'm on my 3rd 8310 and this one is already starting to creak after 6 weeks. Garbage build quality. Palm Treos are vastly superior though the software is total amateur hour.

I don't need jewels or gold- just something STRONG- like a swiss army knife!

you replace the devices because it squeaks? hate to see what you do when a house starts to make noises, or a car

hmm, idk i usualy take amazingly great care of my blackberry my 8700 i got it back in late 2006 early 2007 i beleive and it maybe has one scratch on it

Anybody know if you can get Blackberry Connect on a Vertu phone?

There is no BB Connect client for any Vertu phone. I don't think anybody is going to write one either. Not enough Vertu phones out there to make it worth while.

errm there are various Symbian blackberry connect software versions. if nokia release a Symbian Vertu then there's no reason why not.

True, but right now there is still no Vertu BBC client. The only way it's gonna happen is if they change the Vertu OS, and even then there might not be a working client out there.

Check out the diamond-studded BlackBerry Pearl, available in limited quantities from Amosu...

* A diamond studded Pearl | BlackBerry Cool
* Amosu
* The Boy Genius Report: BlackBerry loves Goooold! - Engadget Mobile


It's pretty unlikely the RIM themselves will make a "premium" BlackBerry device in the foreseeable future, but if you're prepared to pay for it, companies like Amosu will sell you a diamond-studded handset, or convert your existing one...

By the way, they also do a number of other products, including the Apple iPhone and iPod products, and all their products are strictly limited edition.

Yea thats true. And personally Nokia with Vertu are lazy. One has the 6310i OS and costs £2k (about $3900)

The best Vertu models use Nokia's "Series 40" operating system and interface, with price tags up to a whopping $US20,000 ($AU21,237)!

That's a hell of a lotta money to spend on a cell phone, just to show off...

Thanks Cowboy. I'm not interested in a gold or diamond phone (that's just absurd imo b/c the phone is obsolete in 18 months), just something that it significantly better quality than the current stock of devices. Something made of solid metal would just fine. I'd spend a G for better made phone with solid keys and housing. It's not a fashion statement and I'm not an arab sheik.

I know what you mean - I'm not sure if they do it in the States or not, but Nokia have their 88xx series here in Australia that are generally made of better-quality materials than most other phones, and have an all-round better build quality also... They're made of titanium and so forth.

They cost about $AU1500 (about $US1200).


If BlackBerry released "premium" devices like Nokia's 88xx series, I know I'D probably get one, even if it DID cost a little extra...


lol