14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia C7 is not one of the most successful Symbian^3 smartphones out there, which seems to be the reason why the manufacturer decided to boost its popularity by releasing an exclusive gold-plated version.
Announced under the name of Nokia ORO, which means 'gold' in Italian, it appears that the phone will only be launched in Russia for 44,990 Rubles (about $1635).
Specs-wise, Nokia ORO is C7's copycat, but when it comes to materials used for manufacturing, the ORO shines, literally.
Nokia used only premium materials such as gold, sapphire, leather and the most durable glass.
The phone's frame along with the Home key are made from 18 carat gold, while the back of the phone is wrapped in the finest quality Bridge of Weir leather.
For those who don't know, Bridge of Weir is a Scottish leather company founded in 1905, which operates one of Europe's largest leather production facilities.
If this doesn't sound too convincing, then maybe the fact that Bridge of Weir's roots can be traced back to 1758 should tell us something.
Bridge of Weir Leather has been specified for a wide variety of hotel and leisure projects including the Burj Al Arab, the world's first 7-star hotel, as well as luxurious cars manufactured by Aston Martin.
The phone's 3.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen is covered by Gorilla glass display, which is six times stronger than standard glass and highly scratch resistant.
While the price of the phone turns it into a serious competitor for Nokia's luxurious series Vertu, it is likely that the device will only be available in Russia, and probably in limited quantities.
However, those who are interested in checking this one out may soon find the device available for purchase from mobile phone retailer Svyaznoy.
It is also worth mentioning that Nokia C7 is also slated to receive the recently announced Symbian Anna software, which may improve the phone's functionality.
