Motorola intros avant-garde $2,000 AURA, markets it like a Rolex

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

Gallery: Motorola intros avant-garde $2,000 AURA, markets it like a Rolex

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[Scythe @ Oct 21st 2008 11:15AM]

It's like a Helio Ocean but with a taillight lens glued to it.

Epic fail...

[tom @ Oct 21st 2008 11:22AM]

Geez moto, you are making a phone. In the world of electronics/computer, parts and cost reduction is the road to success. More parts = easier to break.

Epic Fail +1

[BluesK1d @ Oct 21st 2008 11:38AM]

You know with incredible products like this, I really can't understand how Motorola is hurting financially.

[Dave @ Oct 21st 2008 11:41AM]

I remember when Motorola released their $1,500 StarTac back in the mid 90's. They'd probably have more success tossing the inards of this piece of crap into that old StarTac shell and selling it. Now that would be and interesting mod. The only life this dumbphone has is battery life.

[Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 21st 2008 12:03PM]

All that "style* with a TWO megapixel camera.





Bamboozled...

[NineT9mustang @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:19PM]

Thanks to some friends/family that have worked for T-Mobile, I have been fortunate enough to use/try every single T-Mobile phone made for the last 10 years (Since Voicestream)...and the Motorola V-70 was my favorite phone :)

I absolutly loved this phone, it was so slick looking and always got compliments, good to see its somewhat back...

My 2nd favorite phone was the Samsung Slider D-415... Shame all the new Samsung sliders didn't match to the D-415 :( You were able to assign Videos for Caller ID, it was hilarious :D

Anyway, awesom phone this V-70

[Ayman @ Oct 21st 2008 2:37PM]

This device is not meant for Engadget readers, but the anti engadget readers (who dont read :P), since w

you will see this phone with celebrities (and money-to-burn people) who dont care much about the features, just the LOOK, moto's been doing this for a very long time

[EdgeOne @ Oct 21st 2008 3:04PM]

Wonder if it emits a backup alarm if you carry it your hip pocket...

@ Dave: I do miss my StarTac. If Motorola is flirting with bad ideas, how about cheap retro-styled phones with today's technology in them?

[Sean @ Oct 21st 2008 5:05PM]

It's clearly photoshopped. Clearly. :P

[ZSX @ Oct 21st 2008 5:34PM]

http://www.mobile-review.com/review/motorola-motoaura-en.shtml

Review of the phone here. Seems like they liked it.

[Alex @ Oct 21st 2008 11:18AM]

*jaw drops* I want one. Now I just need 2k to buy it. -.-

[sip @ Oct 21st 2008 11:42AM]

I like it. But I don't $2,000 like it.

I mean, at least give it wifi and a touch screen on that fold out part, yeesh.

[iEye @ Oct 21st 2008 12:22PM]

Plus the 3 year contract...

[Karl @ Oct 21st 2008 11:16AM]

This is a terrible idea.

[Andy TGD @ Oct 21st 2008 4:55PM]

In so many ways. In so many ways.

Great time to be releasing an uber-expensive phone btw Motorola. Good luck shifting that.

[James @ Oct 24th 2008 2:06AM]

O?

[Nitin Mehra @ Oct 21st 2008 11:16AM]

It is due to such stupid products that Motorola is sinking like a brick.

Instead of concentrating to newer and better technology giving more features to the user, Motorola goes ahead and designs a phone for Paris Hilton.


Why would I wanna spend 2 grands on a phone, when I can get the same feature set in a 200 dollar phone!!!!

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:29AM]

How many fucking iterations of the razor can they possibly release? Oh wait its the number 1 selling phone in America. Now are the consumers at fault or is it the carriers? Motorola like AT&T and GM have their head up their asses. In financial times like these they want to play on our society's need to keep up with the Joneses.... I'm not gonna rant because its too early for this.. but you catch my drift.

[Chris @ Oct 21st 2008 11:18AM]

I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I won't buy that.

[derX @ Oct 21st 2008 3:44PM]

Yeah, this isn't doing it for me--not the design, the features, or the specs.

I'd rather have a diamond with an antenna in it.

[ntlam @ Oct 21st 2008 8:38PM]

Someone out there will ;-)

[sr @ Oct 21st 2008 11:18AM]

Magic 8-ball, when's the best time to release an obscenely expensive luxury product?

Magic 8-ball: After a major stock market crash.

[Alejandro @ Oct 21st 2008 1:20PM]

Correction: Magic 8-ball, when's the best time to release an obscenely expensive luxury product that has better looking competitor luxury products with better functionality; all of which can be replaced with a FREE (subsidized) phone?


And yes, whoever buys this deserves to be ripped-off. Wish I could get my hands on the buyer list.... fertile ground for business opportunities!

[Andrew @ Oct 21st 2008 12:11PM]

You can never trust magic 8 balls. When i was i kid i asked it if i should break it open and drink the fluid inside...I puked blue for a week.

[Amin @ Oct 21st 2008 12:17PM]

Turkleton?

[Rogue_Genius @ Oct 21st 2008 2:03PM]

Perhaps they were thinking along the "quality" per sale instead of "quantity"? You know, selling 10 phones at $2000.00 is like selling TWO HUNDRED phones at $100.00 a pop. Way to speed up the recovery process, Moto.

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:20AM]

If the U.S government doesn't let these companies run out of businesses for releasing crap like this with tax payer money I don't see how the hell we are supposed to get out of this mess... The best way to deal with this is bite the bullet and let old bad corporations die and let the market clean itself and start anew later with fresh businesses with fresh ideas. They are only postponing the inevitable and making it worst so we can go into a deeper depression later.

[derX @ Oct 21st 2008 11:36AM]

I honestly had no clue that Motorola was an American company. Wow, you learn something new everyday. (I'm not being sarcastic, either, I just wiki'd it.)

Yeah, I realy wish Moto would get its act together. I mean, the economy is taking an economy class flight straight to hell--hold the peanuts if they cost extra. WHY THE HELL WOULD THEY RELEASE A LUXURY PHONE!? I understand that not everyone is really strapped, but why focus on that segment of the market right now?

Motorola, directions from me to you (not that I know anything): How about you keep going in the FONE direction. Make an ultra-low cost QWERTY--make it sexy and thin, just because people are broke doesn't mean they want ugly phones. Don't go over board. Make it nice and simple and for god's sake, PUT IT SOME DAMN 3G even if--especially if--it means you can't use your non-3G compatible OS. Android works perfectly.

Also, hire me, because I'm that awesome.

[johnny d @ Oct 21st 2008 12:33PM]

What the heck does tax payer's money have to do with Moto phones ? Wasn't the crisis about bancks borrowing too much money to people who can't afford paying them back ? You might not like the phone, but please make some sense !

[Dubb @ Oct 21st 2008 12:44PM]

It really shows how ignorant some people have become. You are "Highly Ranked"?!!?! I swear I live in a world full of retards. Tax payer money hasn't gone anywhere near cell phone manufacturers in America. The bailout was for the housing/banking market. It has nothing to do with a company that makes electronics....

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 21st 2008 5:46PM]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/10/opinion/main4513890.shtml


Corporate welfare anyone? yes back in 2006...

I wont doubt that the government will bailout motorola as they did chrysler if they continue to crumble. Were you guys aware of what was slipped to the automakers by the government (seperately) and quietly amidst all the bailout discussion?

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/709882.html

Given motorola's relationship with the U.S military this is very feasable....

[▀█▀ █ ▀█▀ ▄█▀ @ Oct 21st 2008 11:20AM]

looks somewhat Cylon to me tbh

[CraigJ @ Oct 21st 2008 2:11PM]

I was thinking Chronicles of Riddick...

[Ray-- @ Oct 21st 2008 11:21AM]

even if that big ugly red thing in the middle was a ruby i wouldn't buy this thing for 2k.

[Cornelius @ Oct 21st 2008 11:21AM]

It's for people who have more money than brains. Kudos to Motorola for taking advantage of this demographic.

[Tom Robertson @ Oct 21st 2008 11:22AM]

Fail definetly

[Evo1216 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:51AM]

"Definetly" Fail :-/

[Tom Robertson @ Oct 21st 2008 12:25PM]

Ok fine. Fail, definetly.

[Ashvala @ Oct 21st 2008 11:31AM]

A big step toward the microsoft oPhone
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=WazA77xcf0A

i will buy it!

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 21st 2008 11:22AM]

And Motorola wonders why it's soaring high like a led zeppelin

[Adrian Williams @ Oct 21st 2008 11:24AM]

I'll take 2

[Horrible Design @ Oct 21st 2008 11:24AM]

Looks like a bicycle light....

[Eric @ Oct 21st 2008 11:25AM]

At least Ballmer can't whine about the iPhone being the most expensive phone in history any more! :-P

This show exactly what goes wrong when people think it's the chrome that makes successful products sell.

Motorola, give up. You are not going to repeat the Razr craze. You don't get it.

[Peter @ Oct 22nd 2008 4:29PM]

You people know that Nokia's Vertu line is very similar, right? High-end phones with very limited functionality which appeal to consumers with considerably large wallets. Recessions don't affect the buying habits of these people. You may not be interested in buying it, but you're not the target market. Relax a bit folks.

[kufans @ Oct 21st 2008 11:26AM]

That is beautiful.

In the end, it is still a phone though. pass
I'll buy $2000 worth of beer brewing gear instead.

[7on @ Oct 21st 2008 11:26AM]

I do say that it looks quite exquisite. Would go great with my yacht. Though I do have a personal manservant who takes my calls for me and does not deserve such luxury.

Excuse me while I go throw diamonds and watch the poors fight over them.

[joe23521 @ Oct 21st 2008 11:27AM]

Whoever buys this deserves the rip off. Win for everybody.

[Wonderkid @ Oct 21st 2008 11:31AM]

Well, Moto have built the first phone with a circular screen, so they beat this to market. Rear view only, but a different market, although similar build quality: ophone.com.

[L @ Oct 21st 2008 11:30AM]

Well, it's for the same market that buys Nokia's 8xxx series or Vertu's. I see no reason why this might not be a moderate success - and I think it's an iconic product, something Moto needs right now.

[Anthony @ Oct 21st 2008 11:31AM]

I think most engadget readers don't understand what marketing luxury or exclusive devices does- it propels the brand image & brings people to the more available models.

It's why the Dodge Viper existed for as long as it did, it's why Ford made a GT40, why most every haute couture clothing designer does runway shows w/ clothing no one can buy.

While I would argue that phones are a stretch for this marketing model, it's certainly not for Joe Q "Geek Squad" employee to pick up - that would defeat the purpose.