Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Telecommunications |
Founded | 1998 |
Founder | Nokia |
Headquarters | Church Crookham, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
Worldwide | |
Products | Luxury mobile phones |
Number of employees | 200 |
Parent | Baferton Ltd. |
Website | Vertu.com |
Vertu was a British-based manufacturer and retailer of luxury handmade mobile phones, established by Finnish mobile-phone manufacturer Nokia in 1998. In October 2012, Nokia sold Vertu to private equity group EQT VI for an unspecified amount,[1][2] but retained a 10% share.[3] By the end of 2013, the company had around 350,000 customers, and phones were on sale in 500 retail outlets, including 70 run by the company.[4] In 2015, it was announced that EQT had sold its share of Vertu to Godin Holdings, a Hong Kong-based holding company.[5][6] In March 2017 Godin Holdings sold to Baferton Ltd. a Cyprus-based Turkish company. In July 2017, the new shareholders applied to the Court of England for bankruptcy protection, the company went into voluntary liquidation after plans to save it failed and Vertu Corporation Ltd. was put into liquidation, leaving its residual staff of 200 unpaid and unemployed.[7] Vertu AK France, is the parent company of Vertu Corporation, through which the Vertu Brand and company continues its business today.In May 2020, the factory and office complex in Church Crookham England, that has been empty since July 2017 was demolished to make way for a retail park.
Concept[edit]
According to The Economist, the concept was to market phones explicitly as fashion accessories, with the idea 'if you can spend $20,000 on a watch, why not on a mobile phone?'[8] Vertu is the brainchild of the Italian Frank Nuovo, former chief designer at Nokia.[9] He proposed and presented the luxury concept to Nokia's board, who eventually accepted it in late 1998. At the time Nokia released their first luxury phone, the 8850.[10] The resulting products called 'Vertu' were finally announced in Paris in 2002, and part of a separate subsidiary called Vertu owned by Nokia.[11][12]
USB3.0 Flash Drives 256GB, AUAMOZ Memory Drive 256GB Photo Stick Compatible with Mobile Phone & Computers, Mobile Phone External Expandable Memory Storage Drive, Take More Photos & Videos (Green) 4.1 out of 5 stars 191.
Using the cell phone as a mobile hotspot is one of the more advanced features wireless phone consumers in New Hampshire may want. If you'd like to find the best plan in your area, you can compare cell phone plans in New Hampshire with Wirefly's innovative comparison tool. New hampshire cell phones - by owner. Mobile OS android apple iOS blackberry windows mobile other reset update search.
Vertu phones were made in its factories in Church Crookham, Hampshire, England. Handsets were sold through an emphasis on craftsmanship, style and service, rather than mobile phone functions.[8] The business was based in the United Kingdom with offices in New York City, Dubai, Moscow, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris and Singapore. In November 2015, Massimiliano Pogliani was replaced by Billy Crotty as Vertu's CEO, who in turn was replaced by Gordon Watson three months later.[13][14]
Collection[edit]

Vertu was launched on 21 January 2002 and the first collection available later that year.[15] The flagship model 'Signature' was launched in 2003. Its key pad contains nearly 5 carats of ruby bearings. Other models include Ascent (2004), Constellation Classic (2006), Constellation Ayxta (2009), among others. Ascent phones are designed to be lightweight and durable, made of aluminium or titanium with vulcanised rubber and leather. The Classics are simple and small handsets. Ayxtas are flip phones that come in numerous variants and colours. In 2006, Vertu produced and released the Aerius Bluetooth Headset designed by Jacob Jensen Design.
Vertu Aerius Bluetooth Headset, released 2006
A Vertu Signature phone in stainless steel, released 2003
A Vertu Constellation Ayxta on display, released 2009
Old Bond Street boutique, London
Shop in Ginza, Japan in 2009
The Constellation Quest is the first smartphone by Vertu, equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard made from sapphire sculpted keys. Announced in October 2010, it is similarly styled to the Nokia E72 and runs the SymbianS60 operating system. It was priced from £5,000 (stainless steel and leather) to £17,300 (yellow gold).[16] This was followed by Constellation in October 2011, the company's first touchscreen model.[17] In February 2013, the Vertu Ti was the first Vertu handset after Nokia's sale, and uses the Androidmobile operating system instead of Symbian. This was followed in June 2014, by Signature Touch.[18] The Signature Touch's price ranged from $10,300/€7,900 for the base model to over $50,000/€44,000 for the Pure Jet Red Gold.[7]
Vertu also made limited edition handsets in collaboration with Ferrari,[19] and Bentley.[20]
Previously the 2017 version of the Vertu constellation was the last Vertu handset before the company collapsed in 2017.[7] Vertu has since emerged from bankruptcy and introduced the Aster P smartphone in October 2018 at an event in Beijing.[21] However this latest phone was designed and produced in China not in England as all previous models had been.
Criticism[edit]
Vertu phones have been described as 'tasteless trash' by Wired magazine,[22] and 'technologically modest' by the Financial Times.[23] They are often described as bling.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'EQT's Current Portfolio – Vertu'. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^'Vertu: it makes sense for Nokia to sell us'. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^'Nokia will retain 10% share in Vertu'. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^'Vertu chooses Android over Windows for luxury handset'. BBC News. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^'Controversy surrounds $61 million deal for luxury smartphone maker Vertu'. digitaltrends.com. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^'Luxury British phone maker Vertu sold to Chinese investors as CEO steps down'. International Business Times. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.,
- ^ abcBaraniuk, Chris (13 July 2017). 'Luxury phone-maker Vertu collapses'. BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ ab'The origins of Vertu'. The Economist. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^Wallace, Amy (17 April 2010). 'At Vertu, Designing Six-Figure Cellphones'. The New York Times.
- ^'Nokia targets rich with luxury mobile phone range'. 14 January 2002.
- ^https://www.forbes.com/2002/01/29/0129tentech.html#71eae3613a59
- ^'The origins of Vertu'. The Economist. 20 February 2003.
- ^Richard Lai. 'Chinese-owned Vertu vows to keep making luxury phones in the UK'. Engadget. AOL.
- ^'Vertu's sudden CEO swap spells trouble after Chinese buyout'. Engadget. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^'Vertu Launches the World's Most Exclusive Instrument for Personal Communication'. Nokia. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^'Vertu Constellation Quest: The blingtastic £17,300 smart phone'. cnet.com. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^'Vertu Launch Party: Hollywood Stars Try Out the New Constellation'. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^'Vertu's Signature Touch combines top tech with a concierge'. Wired UK. 3 June 2014.
- ^'Vertu, Ferrari Team Up for Titanium Phone',
- ^'Want to really impress at the boat club? Get a Bentley premium smartphone made by Vertu'. Yahoo!. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^'Luxury manufacturer Vertu returns with Aster P smartphones'. 19 October 2018.
- ^Rob Beschizza (19 March 2008). 'Eight Things We Pretend to Care About, But Don't'. Wired. Gadget Lab. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ^'Nokia prepares to lose its bling tone'. Financial Times.
Lifeline Phone Service Quick Start Guide
#1 Do you want a cell phone or landline?
Search for providers that offer the type of service you want by filtering by that service type or by looking at the 'services available' for a provider. The available services are wireless (cell phone), landline or both.
#2 Select a provider
Browse thru the list of New Hampshire Lifeline Phone Service Providers and locate ones that offer service in your area. If you are not sure which ones provide services in your area you may want to check your city or county website, visit the providers website or call the provider for more information.
#3 Check eligibility
You can be eligible for Lifeline service by being enrolled in another government program such as SNAP (food stamps), Housing Assistance (section 8) and many others. Check the 'Eligibility By Program' list for the provider you have selected, if you are enrolled in any of the programs listed then you are eligible.
You may also be eligible for service based on your income if you are not enrolled in any of the programs listed. This option is not always available, review the 'Eligibility by Income' for your selected provider for further details.
#4 Apply
The 'How to Apply' section will provide directions on how to apply for service with your selected provider.
New Hampshire Lifeline Service Providers
Assurance Wireless
Services Available: Wireless
Phone Number: 877-378-1761
Website:Click to visit site
Online Application:Click to visit Online Application
Eligibility by Program
- Medicaid
- Food Stamps/SNAP
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) or Section 8
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program (NSL)
Portable Devices Windows 10 Driver
Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for Assurance Wireless Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline call 1-877-378-1761 directly at www.assurancewireless.com. You may find more information about Lifeline and other telephone services available from Assurance Wireless at http://www.assurancewireless.com .Safelink
Services Available: Wireless
Website:Click to visit site

Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- National School Lunch Program (NSL)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Eligibility by Income
Total household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty GuidelinesHow to Apply for Safelink Lifeline Service
Apply online for a free cell phone with 250 free minutes per month by clicking here.Dixville Telephone Company
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number: 603-255-9911
Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands
Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for Dixville Telephone Company Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline call Dixville Telephone Company directly at603-255-9911 . You may find more information about Lifeline andother telephone services available from Dixville Telephone Companyat http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Consumer/linkup-lifeline.htm . An application can be obtained via phone.Dunbarton Telephone Company
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number:
Apple Mobile Device Usb Driver Download
877-774-9911Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands

Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for Dunbarton Telephone Company Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline call Dunbarton Telephone Company directly at603-774-9911. You may find more information about Lifeline andother telephone services available from Dunbarton Telephone Companyat http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Consumer/linkup-lifeline.htm . An application can be obtained via phone, or from DunbartonTelephone Company.FairPoint Communications
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number:
Portable Device Drivers
866-984-2001Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands
Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for FairPoint Communications Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline call FairPoint directly at 866-984-2001. Youmay find more information about Lifeline and other telephoneservices available from FairPoint Communications at http://www.fairpoint.com . An application can be obtained via phone.FairPoint Communications - NNE
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number: 866-984-2001
Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands
Portable Device Driver Download
Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for FairPoint Communications - NNE Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline call Fairpoint Comm directly at 866-984-2001.You may find more information about Lifeline and other telephoneservices available from FairPoint Communications - NNE at http://www.Fairpoint.com . An application can be obtained via phone.Granite State Telephone, Inc.
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number: 603-529-9911
Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands
Eligibility by Income
Total household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.How to Apply for Granite State Telephone, Inc. Lifeline Service
To apply for Lifeline stop by your nearest certified Granite StateTelephone, Inc. retail store. You may find more information aboutLifeline and other telephone services available from Granite StateTelephone, Inc. at http://GraniteStateTelephone.com . An application can be obtained via phone, or at a certifiedGranite State Telephone, Inc. retail store.TDS Telecom
Services Available: Landline
Phone Number: 888-225-5837
Website:Click to visit site
Eligibility by Program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance / Section 8
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Lunch (free program only)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Additional eligibility criteria may apply to residents of federallyrecognized tribal lands
Eligibility by Income

How to Apply for TDS Telecom Lifeline Service
T-mobile Portable Wifi Device
To apply for Lifeline call customer advisor directly at888-225-5837. You may find more information about Lifeline andother telephone services available from TDS Telecom at http://www.tdstelecom.com . An application can be obtained via phone.