We already knew Vertu was planning to open wide to Tokyo's Ginza district in late February, and apparently it decided to follow through despite an economy that's apt to slow sales of its luxury handsets dramatically. At any rate, the spot is a must-see even for tourists with a savings account that couldn't buy the "8" key of a Constellation Pure, so be sure to freshen up and drop by if you find yourself in the city. Oh, and be sure to ask the reps on hand if any of Vertu's phones can load up the full version of the company's own website without struggling -- we get the feeling the reaction will be priceless.

[Via RCRWireless]

We won't lie -- we've always been harsh on Vertu handsets. As a rule, they're technologically inferior to handsets that are a twelfth the price, and honestly, they're usually pretty unsightly. But you know, Boy Genius Report's hands-on experience with the stainless steel Signature S Design really has us back on the fence. Sure, it's the price of a decent subcompact, but man, it's as sleek as sleek could ever hope to be. Have a look in the read link for a hands-on gallery that's sure to make you envious -- whether you're willing to admit it or not.

When we hear "hands-on," we generally expect a smattering of images detailing the highlights -- you know, about as many as a fidgety PR person will allow, or about as many as one can take before they succumb to self-indulgence. In this "first look" of Motorola's ridiculously luxurious $2,000 AURA, however, the author not only took the time to detail his first impressions, but to also upload dozens of snapshots to show you exactly what this here handset looks like in just about every possible light. And that's a good thing too, because the chances of any of us simpletons actually seeing one in the flesh is slim to none.

[Thanks, Drei Drei]

We can't remember the last time we purchased a phone because it possessed 700+ individual components, a stainless steel housing or a front plate that takes a fortnight to create, but Motorola's hoping you start to care about that kind of minutiae right about now. The admittedly gorgeous AURA (previously coined V70) is the world's first handset with a 16-million color circular display, and aside from making / receiving calls with the utmost clarity, it also boasts a Swiss-made main bearing, 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, microUSB port, quad-band GSM connectivity, a microSD card slot, multimedia player and up to 7.3-hours of talk time (400-hours in standby). The 4.97-ounce handset is available exclusively from the MOTO STORE for $1,999.99, with pre-orders shipping out beginning December 4th. Who's in?

[Thanks, Paulo and Jake]

Read - Dedicated AURA website
Read - Motorola AURA press release

Just over a fortnight after deploying UMTS 900, Alcatel is now announcing that we Americans better get prepared for an absolute onslaught of phones right here in the US market. The 20 phone lineup is being dubbed a "spring lineup of fashion phones" that are reportedly quite the "chic and stylish" bunch. While there wasn't much detail on the specification end, we do know that the handsets will sport "soft-touch plastics, a leather-like finish, and design touches like dots of liquid metal." Of course, the ladies should appreciate the already-promised floral offerings, and those eying a low- to mid-range phone should find at least one option that suits their fancy. Among the barrage will be flavors that sport a 1.3-megapixel camera, 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, dedicated music controls, and support for 1GB TransFlash cards to boot. Currently, the outfit is already working to get its GSM handsets approved by AT&T, and the CDMA phones should be good to go on several "smaller regional carriers," hopefully by May of this year.

[Via PhysOrg.com]