‘Luxury’ handset maker Vertu announced a five-year partnership with automaker Bentley, which sees the first ‘Vertu for Bentley’ phone set for release in October 2014.

The alliance will see five “distinctive” designs delivered, with exclusive Bentley content made available via an app. It will be supported by a joint global marketing campaign, with Vertu working with Bentley at global and regional events and customer insight activities.

In a statement, Vertu said that the devices will “encompass authentic and iconic Bentley design elements and luxury lifestyle services”.

Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of Vertu, said that the alliance is “based on a relationship that goes far deeper than the utilisation of materials and cues on design”.

Vertu, a former Nokia subsidiary, has been offering its premium devices for a number of years, with its first Android-powered device coming in at €8,000.

In addition to high-quality materials, its handsets also feature access to a number of supporting lifestyle services.

And while the company has acknowledged its devices will “never be at the bleeding edge of technology”, its latest Signature Touch (pictured) comes dangerously close to having a contemporary specification.