The BBC has reported that Vertu, a manufacturer of extraordinarily luxurious mobile phone handsets, has gone into liquidation following a period of financial difficulty.
Vertu handsets were typically crafted from precious materials, encrusted with jewels, featured synthetic sapphire screens and cost tens of thousands of pounds to purchase.
Technology analysts have suggested that the failure of the company may be owing to other businesses offering elective customisation of common handsets with the same kinds of precious metals and stones, allowing consumers much greater freedom of choice.
The collapse of Vertu will result in the loss of nearly 200 jobs.
