The insurance website states “We’ve been insuring mobile phones for what seems like forever. We know what’s most likely to break and what isn’t. That’s why we’re able to offer the world’s cheapest mobile phone insurance for the Nokia 3310.”

“They are famous for being indestructible, but in the rare situation something bad does happen, we’ll have your back.”

The cheap insurance also covers accessories, international trips, liquid damage and breakdowns. For an extra £1 a month, Row.co.uk will also cover the phone against theft, loss and unauthorised calls.

Earlier in February 2017 it was revealed Ex-Soldier and original Nokia 3310 owner Dave Mitchell is still using the phone he purchased almost two decades ago. His phone has survived two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, been through the wash and even dropped in a curry. It still works.

HMD has said the new phone will have a month’s standby time and will deliver more than 22 hours of talk time

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

In late August 2016, Ireland was ordered by the European Commission to reclaim €13 billion in back taxes from Apple.

It is claimed that Ireland illegally gave significant tax breaks to Apple, allowing the gadget mega-corporation to pay just 2% on profits compared to the country’s rate of 12.5%.

Although both Apple and the Irish government are appealing the ruling, it is unclear whether they will be successful.

However, with such a large cash pile, could there be another way for Apple to avoid paying the tax?

In 2014, the GDP figure for Ireland was $205 billion, just a few billion more than the cash hoard Apple reported to hold in 2015.

Ireland may not be for sale, but their debt potentially is. With a reported $226.6 billion in the red, Apple could pay off the entire amount in just a few instalments.

What would Apple get in return? Perhaps an even better tax deal or even the offer of paying no tax at all. That may not currently be legal under EU rules, but with neighbouring Britain having recently decided to leave the union, Ireland may not be far off joining.

Ireland may be seen as a tax haven and therefore attractive to Apple to place its European headquarters, but what’s stopping Apple from just creating its own country and making its own taxation laws?

In theory, Apple could buy its own country and build a bank for under $150 million, avoiding hefty penalties like the one it currency faces.

The idea may initially sound absurd, but in 2007 ‘Sealand’ was put on the open market. An ugly second World War II gun platform, just outside Britain’s three-mile territorial waters, claims to be the world’s smallest state. Remarkably, the UK government agrees.

For offers in the region of $100 million, this platform comes with the right to print its own postage stamps and even put a team into the qualifying stages of the World Cup.

According to OffshoreCompany.com, the costs of starting a new bank is roughly between $10 - $20 million; pocket change in comparison with Apple’s net worth.

Whether Apple considers one of these possibilities to avoid large future tax bills or not, it’s going to interesting watching what Apple does with its eye-watering cash stockpile and how it operates in an international economy with politicians increasingly clamping down on tax avoidance.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.