Motorola launches top-end handset

Motorola is unveiling its latest mobile handset today.

The Aura, designed by Motorola’s in-house team, will retail at around £1000 and contains more than 200 parts in its opening mechanism.

The mechanism uses a central Swiss-made bearing, hardened-steel gears and 130 ball bearings to drive the handset blade.

The phone is largely handmade and has a 62-carat sapphire crystal lens, which its makers claim is scratch-resistant. It takes two weeks to create the stainless-steel front which is cut, electro- and hand-polished, chemically etched and PVD-coated.

The Aura uses Motorola’s Crystal Talk technology, which cuts out background noise during conversation.

The phone will first be sold in London’s Selfridges in December.

Architect Ben van Berkel has been commissioned to create an installation for the launch event tonight at St Martins Lane hotel, where it will remain until 5 December. He was asked to interpret ‘The return of artistry’ as his brief.