Cory over at BoingBoing points us to Voce, a high-end wireless carrier. Ordinarily, we’d dismiss the whole idea, but this time it’s not quite so laughable as a blinged-out Vertu.

They’re targeting the rich and status-conscious (n.b. that truly awful all-Flash website), but the actual terms of the deal are interesting to anyone with serious cell needs:

• $500 one-time setup fee (well, that part kind of bites);
• $200 a month for unlimited calling, messaging, directory assistance, etc.;
• A live-person 24×7 concierge/PA service that will answer any question or request that can be handled by phone or web;
• Free loaner phones for international travel (Mr Acosta! Check this out!);
• All phones are fully insured against loss or theft; just call ’em and they’ll send you a new one, apparently;
• Aside from that, you can upgrade phones every 12 months for no cost.

There’s definitely some extra cash floating around in this deal, but the monthly fees alone don’t represent a huge premium over a heavy voice plan with a data package. $500 setup is steep, but a new Treo 680 (which would be free with Voce) would be $299 at Cingular with a 2-year contract. Voce is contract-free.