Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40185 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Nokia
• Model: 8800
• Released on: 2005-07-07

Manufacturer's Description:

Drawing upon modern watchmaking and jewellery techniques, Nokia has unveiled a truly inspired mobile phone for today's connoisseurs of quality and taste. Encased in a slim stainless steel body, the Nokia 8800 subtly glides open to reveal a number of distinctive details, each meticulously considered and researched to complement the prestige and quality of the device. To heighten the experience, the Nokia 8800 features exclusive audio accompaniment, including all ringtones and alerts, by award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. This attention to detail continues Nokia's heritage of premium mobile phones that have set the industry standard for elegance and performance.

With a Zen-like goal to balance form and functionality, the guiding principle of Nokia's designers and engineers was to create a truly modern mobile phone, the epitome of style and elegance, which would be a pleasure to use and a delight to behold. The organic flowing lines and dynamic surfaces perfectly complement the stainless steel and resin materials -- steel for its tensile strength and durability, and resin for its organic properties. The result is an elegant, 'human' design, comprised of materials destined to age with grace.

Finding inspiration in non-traditional sources, Nokia designers employed modern watch-making techniques, such as the use of metal injection moulding on the function keys. A specially reinforced glass used in luxury timepieces provides added toughness and scratch-resistance to the front display, and even the Nokia marquee has been chemically etched on the back plate using a process typically used by watchmakers.

The 'pop-up' mechanism of the Nokia 8800 is another study in functional design. Using a bi-stable spring mechanism and stainless steel ball bearings, like those used in high-performance automobiles, the keypad of the Nokia 8800 gracefully glides from its protective casing, revealing a hidden camera on the back.

The aural accompaniment of the Nokia 8800 is equally inspired. Award-winning composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto was commissioned to compose the ringtones and alerts. Throughout his distinguished career, Sakamoto has crossed musical and technological boundaries, experimenting with different musical styles and making a name for himself in popular, orchestral and film music.

Inspired by its modern lines and organic curves, Sakamoto has produced a musical accompaniment for the Nokia 8800 that captures an essence and emotion that touches both heart and mind. His creation draws on his vision of the Nokia 8800 user -- a world citizen constantly on the move, making an impression in a grayscale world and through great cities such as New York, Paris, Sydney and Shanghai.

Subtlety and refinement are requirements of modern high design, appealing to consumers who place a high value in quality and attention to detail. Nokia believe the 8800 belongs in this pantheon of iconic products - a sophisticated mobile communication device that quietly earns a nod of appreciation and admiration from other connoisseurs of fine taste.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Great Phone
When I bought this phone, I reseached it as throughly as I could (as I do with most products). I knew that the battery life wouldn't be great, I knew that the camera wouldn't be in the megapixel plus range of a lot of new mobiles and I knew that the keypad wasn't completely ergonomic. But one thing that I did know was that were wasn't a single phone out there (apart from, maybe, earlier nokia 88/89xx models) which had such a beautiful and solid design. After weighing all of these factors up, I purcahsed one.

Firstly, the battery life has been surprisingly unproblematic. It will be slightly short at first, but this is often how phone batteries work. After a 16 hour inital charge, and running the battery through a few cycles, it's now started to last me a couple of days, which is fine. And the inclusion of an extra battery is very useful. It takes pictures (and sends them via MMS or bluetooth) very well; the 0.5 megapixel camera is absolutely fine for my purposes. Due to the general camera technology used in phones, such cameras (even if they are many megapixels) will never be an entirely great replacement for a good digital camera. Also, the keypad is actually fine and easy to get used to after a week or so of using it. Some people have also complained about the ear piece having a low volume, but I believe that this is only the case because they are holding it wrong (as I was doing at first). Due to the shape of the phone, it's easy to have your ear helf against the screen, but the speaker is right at the top. You need to learn how to put your ear up there when in a call, then all is fine. Thus, the problems which a lot of people pick up on are, in my eyes, relatively minor issues, which disappear over time.

Now for the truly positive side of things. This phone is stunning. The screen looks phenomenal; high resolution with many many colours - I've never seen another screen like it. The body of the phone, however, is incredible. It looks far better in real life than in the pictures on the internet; not too shiny, not too flash, just very elegant. A lot of people either look at it, or ask about it when catching sight of it. One problem you might consider is what on Earth would happen if you were to drop it. Well, it seems that the answer to that would be not much. Accidentally, I've dropped it several times, but with the scratch-resistant screen and solid steel body, there isn't a single mark on my handset, and the opening mechanism is still entirely solid. I just can't fault this phone. After years of going through phones which have supposedly been the most high-tech at their time of release, not only have I gone back to using a Nokia (which seems to have the best software and build, perhaps almost equal to Sony Ericsson), but I've gradually realised that I only need to make calls and send texts. Anything else is a bonus. But the greatest bonus of all is something which looks, feels and even sounds perfect (the ringtones on this phone are unique and great). I am entirely pleased with my purcahse and can actually see myself using this phone for the next decade, or at least until GSM technology becomes redundant.

Controversial Mobile
I bought this phone 3 months ago purely for its look; it may seem vain but I simply use mobiles for calls, text and calendar. The phone is solid, on the heavy side, crystal clear screen and smooth sliding mechanism to open and close.

This phone is easy and simple to use. I have small hands and thus no problems with the keypad but I can understand why some may find it slighty awkward and I have no problems with the volume of the phone, personally the volume is just like other mobiles. If you find it difficult to hear, move the phone around to find the actual ear piece or use the hands-free.

This may not be a hi-tech phone with MP3 player,over 1 megapixel camera etc, however it suits those who simply like to use a phone to make calls and send texts. This model has other Nokia standard features like calendar, to-do list, games, camera/video, alarm, radio and calculator.

There are other additional functions: conversion function (for weights, distances, temperature, and some foreign currency), language translator (useful for one word translation) but to be honest I don't use it.

I have only one fault with this phone, which is why I have given a 4 star rating; like with everyone else, the battery is not particularly great, I find I have to charge the phone every other day, sometimes everyday depending on how frequent I use it. Disappointing by Nokia standards, who are renowned for producing expectional batteries. On the plus side, the 8800 does come with two batteries.

Mediocre Phone - ludicrous Price
Ive had this phone for a week now and i'm going to be selling it because it's nothing special. First off, the price is just ridiculous for a phone that has only 1.5-3 Hours talk time, I find myself charging the phone everyday. The features are just as good as any other latest mobile phone on the market today and they are all far cheaper. The phone has only a 0.5 mega pixel camera which is laughable for a phone this expensive. The graphics and 3D imaging are magnificent and the phone itself looks superb but you need small fingers to explore the phone as the buttons are small and very close together.

Overall this phone is just unbelievably expensive for an average phone.