Green robot in an Armani suit: Ulysse Nardin Chairman upgraded with Android

Alright, hot shot, so you've been pining after that impossibly expensive Ulysse Nardin Chairman -- you know, the world's first "hybrid" phone -- for nearly a year now, and the millions of dollars in those off-shore accounts of yours aren't exactly spending themselves. What's next? Well, fortunately, Ulysse Nardin and its hardware partner SCI Innovations have been locked away in the laboratory upgrading the Chairman with a fairly impressive new set of specs that includes a larger 3.2-inch touchscreen, an 8 megapixel camera (up from 5), 32GB of memory on board, "proprietary rotor improvements" for better battery life (that's something you don't hear too often when discussing a phone), and an Android core.

As with the first version, the new model will be limited to just 1846 copies -- assuming there are that many people on the face of the Earth wealthy enough to afford it -- and will be available in your choice of steel, "Stealth" (which is apparently colored or blacked out, up to you), or a selection of precious metals. Of course, no luxury phone would be complete without an equally excessive charging solution, and the new Chairman delivers with a lacquered wood dock that tops off the battery while simultaneously backing up the phone's contents to an external USB drive and offering luscious, soothing sounds through a pair of Bluetooth-connected speakers. Then again, if you're ever in a position where you need that backup -- if you lost your beloved Chairman, that is -- we'd say you've got bigger problems to worry about than a little bit of data. The phone runs all the way from $12,800 for a steel version to a staggering $129,000 if you want white gold encrusted with diamonds.

[peepeeland Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:16AM]

The article picture is amazing. Show it to any 90 year old, and they'll have no idea what it is.

[aavexplorer Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:51AM]

For all the cost, for all the lack of modern day frills- that is the sexyiest phone i've ever seen. you have to have a beautiful car, a beautiful life, to sport that piece of sweet design. flawless. bravo. back to my landline and text-only cell. it's nice to see at least. and at least i'm not owned by my sh*t.

[Soheil Posted Apr 21st 2010 5:17AM]

I dont mind being totally wasted @ betfair just for this phone :-)

[Xell Posted Apr 21st 2010 5:19AM]

Why is this one of the only Android devices in this form factor? I'm still keep to hold onto some hardware buttons (specifically keypad-not qwerty)

Give me a slider any day, but if this weren't so damn ugly I'd even consider it...

Nice interface though, very old school...

[Soheil Posted Apr 21st 2010 5:20AM]

Is there a Android Market on the phone?

[mrqs Posted Apr 21st 2010 6:47AM]

what's with the hideous blue anchor at the top?

[herloboy Posted Apr 21st 2010 8:20AM]

@mrqs its an auto start button for your yacht

[heng Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:46AM]

what is the little windup wheel on the side? to scroll up and down? or is there a watch in there?

[arcady59 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 6:25AM]

That is the sexiest non-female thing I have ever seen. Someone I know bought one of their cheapest watch for like $3,000, but I know they make 6-figure priced watches. Wonder how much that thing is...