Sony Ericsson: Android Phones May Take Longer Than Expected
By Phil Goldstein
Sony Ericsson's CEO hinted that the company's plans to develop a handset based on Google's Android platform may be slowed, though he said this was due more to questions surrounding Android than the troubled handset maker's own position.
Lost in the headlines of Sony Ericsson's first quarter net loss of $386 million--and 2,000 job cuts--last week were Hideki Komiyama's comments about Sony Ericsson's future regarding Android. "It does require a lot of evaluation, as well as a lot of testing, a lot of acceptance from a consumer viewpoint, and there is still some time to go," Komiyama told Reuters.
Komiyama's comments throw into doubt whether the company will produce an Android handset by the end of this year, as previously expected. Sony Ericsson recently said that it was going to focus on its core competencies, and would leverage the Sony brand and its camera technology for its phones. LG, Motorola and Samsung have all pledged that they will release Android-based phones by the end of the year.
Sony Ericsson joined the Open Handset Alliance, the Google-led consortium of companies committed to Android, in December. Sony Ericsson also partnered with Nokia, Motorola and NTT DoCoMo to found the Symbian Foundation. The company shipped 14.5 million units in the first quarter, down 35 percent from the first quarter of 2008. [FierceWireless]
Sony Ericsson Launches $800 Xperia X1
By Phil Goldstein
The wait is over. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is now officially available in the United States, with the phone shipping Nov. 28, or "Black Friday." The price tag: $799.99, unlocked. The UMTS/HSDPA phone, running on Windows Mobile 6.1 and the Opera 9.5 browser will be available through authorized retailers and is available for pre-orders on the Sony Style website.
The blog Boy Genius Report states that the phone will also be available in Best Buy stores beginning Dec. 7.The phone takes advantage of a touchscreen panel user interface that lets users look at multiple applications at the same time. The phone also has a 3.2 megapixel camera, video-calling capabilities and stereo Bluetooth. [FierceWireless]
Sony Ericsson to Debut PlayNow Arena
By Jason Ankeny
Sony Ericsson announced the launch of PlayNow Arena, a web portal promising users access to mobile content including more than a million DRM-free tracks from major labels including Sony BMG, Warner Music and EMI. PlayNow Arena--debuting Monday in the Nordic region--will expand across Europe throughout the remainder of 2008 before going global next year.
Sony Ericsson hopes to sell more than 5 million music downloads over the next 12 months, noting it has sold some 200 million music-enabled handsets worldwide; download costs are expected to mirror fees on Apple's rival iTunes site, which presently run $0.99 per track in the U.S. and €0.99 in Europe.
In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, Sony Ericsson's head of content acquisition and management Martin Blomkvist said PlayNow Arena's biggest draw is the absence of digital rights restrictions: "If we together don't work for finding ways to take away the obstacles of legal downloads, then, this industry from a digital perspective is going to die," he said, adding that the handset maker expects to make little profit from the effort.
"Had we only done music, we wouldn't have done this. The way it is set up today, very few people, apart from the record industry, are getting rich on digital music. Generally speaking, the music today isn't generating a boat load of cash for us." According to Blomkvist, the margins on mobile games are much higher. [FierceMobileContent]
Sony Ericsson Unveils James Bond's Latest Phone
Sony Ericsson is launching a limited edition Titanium silver C902 Cyber-shot(TM) phone as used by James Bond in the eagerly awaited QUANTUM OF SOLACE which will be released worldwide November 2008. The new mobile phone will make sure you are ready for any challenge, immersing you into the world of a secret agent with interactive 007 content and a spy-style game.
Sony Ericsson is excited to unveil an exclusive partnership between the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures release of EON Productions' 22nd James Bond adventure, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, and the C902 Titanium silver edition. The phone, as used by James Bond - played by actor Daniel Craig in the new film - will be available for a limited period and include a memory card loaded with a host of 007 content.
Users will get the chance to know exactly what it takes to be a secret agent like James Bond with the first level* of an exclusive pre-loaded spy-style game. In addition, the full colour trailer of the film, behind-the-scenes interviews with the stars and exclusive content such as wallpapers and screen savers will be available on the phone and the memory card**.
The C902 Cyber-shot phone is used throughout the film by James Bond to capture evidence and assist the agent on his mission. The 5MP camera, with a unique slide-out lens cover, illuminated touch icons providing quick and easy access to camera options, Face detection, Photo flash and Auto focus enables James Bond to send high resolution shots back to MI6 for quick recognition of his enemies. The phone also offers BestPic which allows users to take nine pictures of a moving object simultaneously and choose the best shot to use, plus Picture blogging for uploading photos to blogsites and PictBridge for printing direct to a printer, without the need for a PC or laptop.
In August 2006, Sony Ericsson also teamed up with James Bond to launch the limited edition James Bond Casino Royale silver K800i Cyber-shot camera phone and in November 2002 the Sony Ericsson P900 and T68i mobile phones were used by several of the cast in the 20th James Bond film, Die Another Day.
Lennard Hoornik, Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Marketing, Sony Ericsson comments, "We are excited to announce the continuation of our relationship with the James Bond films and unveil James Bond's new phone for this year - the limited edition version of our C902 Cyber-shot(TM) phone. With the rich array of content both on the phone and preloaded on a memory card bundled with the C902 Titanium silver limited edition, fans of the secret agent will only get more James Bond with Sony Ericsson."
Daniel Craig reprises his role as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in QUANTUM OF SOLACE, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures release of EON Productions' 22nd adventure in the longest-running film franchise in motion picture history. The film is directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay is by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli produce. [FierceWireless]
Music is Reborn as Sony Ericsson Announces Three New Walkman Phones
Building on three year's experience and technology 30 years in the making, Sony Ericsson continues to lead the way in the mobile phone music arena with cutting edge music technology and unique accessories.
Today, Sony Ericsson unveils its latest innovative additions to the Walkman phone family: the W902, W595 and W302, and seven new music accessories. Sony Ericsson is unveiling phones and accessories with superior sound quality and pioneering features that take Walkman phones beyond music and expectations with fantastic extras such as great imaging and video capabilities.
"Since the launch of our first Walkman phone in 2005, Sony Ericsson has continued to pioneer a superior mobile music experience - and the 77 million Walkman phones sold to date are testament to this commitment," says Ben Padley, Head of the Music Category at Sony Ericsson. "With this latest range of phones and accessories, we are offering high quality sound and a rich feature set that cements our position as a leader in the music phone category. We are pushing the boundaries of what people think is possible and are offering best-in-class sound quality and our most exciting Walkman phones to date."
The list of pioneering and innovative features found on Walkman phones continues to be unmatched in the industry. Features like the music recognition application TrackID, SensMe, for matching your mood to the music and Shake control to change tracks with the flick of your hand make Walkman phones stand out from the rest.
Sony Ericsson can now also announce best-in-class sound quality and a clear audio experience from its W902 Walkman. The W902 features the same superior sound quality as the newly launched W980 which was rated "best audio experience" this month, in a trial conducted in Germany by TESTfactory*.
With the W902, users can listen to music the way it should be heard: true to original. It's also a mobile phone for those that want it all, with a five megapixel camera and great video capturing and sharing capabilities, an 8GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) for storing more than 8,000 songs**, the W902 is a top-of-the-range device that will make you the envy of your friends.
The W595 Walkman is perfect for those who want to share sounds with their friends. Store and play more than 1,900 songs** through the built in stereo speakers. Plug in the in-box sharing jack to listen silently to your tunes with a friend or Bluetooth your sounds to Sony Ericsson's range of wireless speakers.
The new W302 Walkman is packed with impressive features in an affordable no-compromise slim handset. Targeting all audiences, the phone comes complete with an impressive two megapixel camera, FM radio, TrackID and 512MB Memory Stick Micro (M2).
The next generation of accessories includes three new sets of speakers, the MBS-200, MBS-400 and MPS-100, to help music lovers go beyond the individual and play music directly from their mobile phone. Enhancing its music accessories collection Sony Ericsson has also introduced three new stereo headphones, HBH-IS800, HPM-88 and HPM-66 for the optimal listening experience. [ABI Research]
Sony Ericsson May Merge With Spice
By Sue Marek
According to the Economic Times, Sony Ericsson is considering a merger with Spice, the handset division of BK Modi Group. BK Modi owns 64 percent of Spice and has asked for 80-100 rupees per share, which would value the company at up to $174 million. The deal has not been finalized, however should it come to fruition, it would make Sony Ericsson the second largest handset maker.
Sony Ericsson is well known for its Walkman-branded phones and in first quarter 2008 it shipped 22.3 million handsets, a 2 percent increase year over year. However, in June the company issued a warning to investors that its second-quarter sales and net income will take a hit because of slowing demand for its mobile phones and new product shipping delays. The handset maker estimated it would just break even in the second quarter. [FierceWireless]
Sony Ericsson and Handango Announce Global Partnership
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Ericsson) and Handango, Inc. (Handango), the global leader and retailer of choice for smartphone applications, announced today a worldwide partnership to bring content direct to consumers on all Sony Ericsson convergence phones, including the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, its first product using the Windows Mobile multimedia OS, and Sony Ericsson's UIQ handsets.
High-end phone sales are growing exponentially, and more consumers are turning to their handsets for both every-day personal and business efficiency as well as multimedia and entertainment. Handango offers the widest array of mobile applications across all genres including mobile productivity, games, imaging, music and more. From students to moms to the business road warrior, Handango has applications that fit every lifestyle.
Handango's InHand clients will offer Sony Ericsson customers a vast and easy-to-navigate array of best-in-class smartphone applications. All applications have been designed for optimal performance on Sony Ericsson's XPERIATM and UIQ devices.
"We look forward to our partnership with Handango which has the global reach, the market share, the merchandising know-how and the technical prowess to provide the best service for Sony Ericsson's users to optimize their device experience," states Mikael Nerde, Director of Application Acquisitions & Content Planning, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. "This partnership further enhances Sony Ericsson's position at the forefront of mobile convergence by providing our users access to a wide range of applications on the market both for work and recreation."
"This partnership is about leaders working with leaders. Sony Ericsson's global footprint provides us with direct access to millions of new smartphone customers allowing Handango to educate them on how personalize their device according to their individual needs," states Handango CEO, Bill Stone. "The global content and application market is experiencing tremendous growth as more and more mainstream customers enter the marketplace, and with nine years gathering experience and knowledge in the mobile content industry, no one can touch Handango's expertise."
Sony Ericsson's highly anticipated XPERIATM X1 is designed to deliver Web communication and multimedia entertainment at their best. Handango will provide a factory-embedded Handango-branded Windows Mobile 6.1 InHand client enabling the user direct access to applications for enhanced device usage. Users can browse the catalogue online and offline searching for content most suited to their needs and purchase directly with the click of a button. The InHand client will be available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
In addition, Handango will be the content provider for Sony Ericsson's mobile Web store for UIQ phones. Later in the year, Handango will offer its InHand mobile client on all UIQ devices. For UIQ devices already on the market, effective July 25, 2008, customers will be able to access content from Handango's mobile store (http://mobile.handango.com/se-ota) via their handset's browser. For subsequent devices the Handango "over-the-air" link will be embedded on the devices in the factory before they are shipped. [/PR/FierceWireless]
The New F305 with Motion Gaming
Fun and Entertainment on The Move
- Motion Gaming with three preloaded motion games, "Bowling", "Bass fishing" and "Jockey" - encounter gaming in a completely new way
- Additional motion games developed by Gameloft plus 50 more 2D and 3D games available for download at PlayNow.
- Loud stereo speakers- enhance your gaming experience or share the latest music with friends
- Horizontal game play and dedicated gaming keys - play games the way you want
- 2.0 megapixel camera and Bluetooth - a complete media experience
- Expandable memory - Memory Stick Micro (M2TM) slot.
F305 with Motion Gaming - At a glance
Gaming and Entertainment
- Motion gaming
- Horizontal gaming mode
- Cross key + Dedicated gaming buttons
- Gaming shortcut key
- 3D games
- Stereo speakers
- Java MIDP 2.0
- PlayNowTM
- Media player
- MP3/AAC/AAC+/ eAAC+
- TrackIDTM
- Stereo FM radio
- Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
- 2.0 megapixel camera
- 2.0" 176 x 220 TFT display
- WAP 2.0 xHTML
- Picture messaging (MMS)
- Predictive text input
- Sound recorder
- Text messaging (SMS)
Design - Style-up covers, two provided in box
- Bluetooth technology
- USB mass storage
- Alarm
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Phone book
- Stopwatch
- Tasks
- Timer
- Colour matched Stereo Headset HPM-60
- Wrist strap
- Charger
- Battery
- User guide
- Spare back cover
Power Pack CPP-100
Instant boost to your battery
Design Collection IDC-21
Protect your phone in style
Stereo Bluetooth Headset HBH-DS220
Enjoy wireless music without missing a call.
M2 USB Adapter CCR-70
Transfer, store and share the content of your Memory Stick MicroTM (M2TM)
Facts and Figures
- Size: 96 x 47 x 14.6 mm
- Weight: 97.5 grams
Polar White and Mystic Black
Screen:Resolution: 176 x 220
TFT display (262,144 colours)
Size: 2.0 inches
Phone memory: Up to 10MB
Memory : Stick MicroTM (M2TM) support
Talk time GSM: Up to 8 hrs
Standby time GSM: Up to 400 hrs
Availability and versions
- Networks: EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
- Available in selected markets from Q3 2008
Sony Ericsson Debuts Motion Gaming Phones
Today's announcement sees Sony Ericsson putting gaming at the heart of its latest phone release. Targeted firmly at a youth audience, the F305 with Motion Gaming lets users control games with the flick of a wrist or the swing of an arm, and then see the results straightaway on the screen. Using advanced motion sensor technology, the phone can, for example, follow your actions to imitate bowling or casting a fishing line.
With the F305 your favourite game is only one-click away. Enjoy the full gaming experience with stereo speakers, which also come in handy for sharing the latest track on the media player. Add a 2.0" screen into this pocket-sized slider phone and the F305 takes playing games on your mobile to a whole new level.
"Gaming is no longer something you do on your own. It's about having fun with your friends and interacting with the game" says Sven Totté, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson. "We have used motion sensor technology before in our phones and integrating it into gameplay is a natural progression."
To complement the F305 there is also now a handy new accessory available for the serious gamer. Although the F305 gives you up to 8 hours of gameplay, there is always now a back-up with the Power Pack CPP-100. Attach it to your keyring and when you need it, simply plug it into the phone to receive an instant battery power boost.
The F305 is about more than just gaming. Slide it open and find it packed with the latest Sony Ericsson features. Never miss a fun or unexpected moment with the phones 2.0 megapixel camera. Share your photos or music with friends via Bluetooth or Memory Stick Micro (M2TM). It will also be possible to change the look of your phone with Style-up covers - two covers to choose from in box. /PR
Report: LG Overtakes Sony Ericsson in Worldwide Market Share
By Teresa von Fuchs
According to the latest report from Gartner, LG overtook Sony Ericsson during the first quarter of 2008 to become the fourth largest handset maker worldwide.
The research firm reported that Sony Ericsson sold 22.1 million units in the quarter, while LG sold 23.6 million; Sony Ericsson’s market share for the quarter is 7.5%, while LG grabbed 8% of the worldwide market.
Nokia continued to dominate the worldwide market, selling 115.2 million handsets during the quarter and increasing its market share to 39.1%, up from 35.5% for the same period last year. Samsung held its place at second, increasing its market share to 14.4% from 12.4% and selling 42.4 million handsets. Motorola's share slipped to 10.2% compared with 18.4% for the same quarter last year.
In another report, IDC found that Research In Motion (RIM) sold the most smartphones in the United States for the first quarter of 2008, more than doubling the nearest competitor's market share. For the first quarter, RIM’s market share jumped to 44.5% from 35.1% in the quarter previous. According to IDC, RIM has successfully broadened its customer base beyond simply business professionals.
While the iPhone was still in second place in the U.S. smartphone market, Apple's market share dropped from 26.7% the previous quarter to 19.2%. Palm held its place at third; increasing its share to 13.4%, up from 7.9% in the fourth quarter. Samsung was fourth with 8.6% of the U.S. smartphone market. [WirelessWeek]
New Sony Ericsson Tech Combines Java and Flash
Device maker Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications announced Project Capuchin, a new technology that promises to bridge the Adobe Flash Lite and Java ME development platforms in an effort to stimulate creation of content-rich mobile applications.
According to Sony Ericsson, Project Capuchin enables developers to bring together attributes of both software stacks to create rich-media applications with the functionality, security and content distribution capabilities of Java as well as the user-interface efficiency of Flash. Project Capuchin enables encapsulation of pure Flash Lite content in Java ME applications with the assistance of Sony Ericsson Developer World tools, making Adobe Flash-created content appear as Java ME applications.
Other advanced capabilities will allow Flash Lite to support an entire presentation layer and make it possible to develop Java ME applications in which some or even all UI components are defined in Flash. Sony Ericsson plans to release the Capuchin SDK in the second half of 2008. [FierceDeveloper]
Sony Ericsson’s New Technology, Project Capuchin, Bridges Java ME and Adobe Flash Lite
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication today announced plans to release a new technology that, for the first time, bridges the Abobe Flash Lite™ and Java ME™ development platforms. The new technology and tools, referred toas Project Capuchin, make it possible to combine the richness of Flash Lite and Java ME technologies allowing developers to utilize the best attributes of both software stacks to create content-rich mobile applications. Sony Ericsson has plans to make the technology available during the second half of 2008 and will demonstrate Project Capuchin enabled applications at the JavaOne Developer Event in San Francisco, May 6 – 9, booth 718 in the Pavilion.
“Sony Ericsson is excited to introduce our new bridging technology to the global developer community as it further strengthens our relationship with this community and underscores our ongoing commitment to support an open, healthy and thriving mobile ecosystem,”said Rikko Sakaguchi, SVP and Head of Portfolio and Proposition at Sony Ericsson.“We are dedicated to exploring opportunities that enable us to provide innovative and energized user experiences. To achieve this, we work with world class partners and technologies, on both platform and product development.”
Project Capuchin will provide developers with an intuitive tool to create applications with a cleaner user interface (UI)without sacrificing the strong, feature rich and widely deployed Java ME infrastructure, including secure, well-developed content distribution. Project Capuchin’s bridging software will empower two distinct developer communities to leverage their respective expertises to create the next generation of highly engaging and immersive mobile content.
“Adobe is pleased to support Sony Ericsson’s Project Capuchin. Using Adobe Flash technology as one part ofthis new bridging technology will ensure further innovation for mobile users when Flash developers gain access to the Java applications’ functionality and intelligence allowing them to create applications with the ultimate user experience,” said Gary Kovacs, general manager and vice president for Mobile and Devices at Adobe. “It is encouraging to see Sony Ericsson’s intention in making the technology available to the wider community.”
Project Capuchin will allow pure Flash Lite content to be encapsulated in Java ME applications with the help of Sony Ericsson Developer World tools, making content created by Adobe Flash technology appear as Java ME applications.
More advanced capabilities will allow Flash Lite technology to handle an entire presentation layer and make it possible to create Java ME applications where some or all UI components are defined inFlash. [FierceWireless]
Mobile Device Market Exceeds Expectations to Deliver 289 Million in 1Q 2008
“Operators and distributors continued to top up their inventories in 1Q 2008 after a particularly strong 4Q 2007,” says ABI Research vice president Jake Saunders. “Year on year, 1Q 2008 was up 13.7%, but 2Q 2008 is likely to be softer than in previous years.”
Shipment volumes in the developed markets have softened slightly due to the credit crisis, but emerging markets such as Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East/Africa are delivering growth rate percentages in the mid-20s. Mobile devices have proved to be a “lifestyle necessity,” rather than a mere luxury accessory.
Despite all the global concern about price inflation in food, rent, clothing, oil, and utility bills, device manufacturers are not benefiting. The ASP (Average Selling Price) has shown comprehensive price erosion for all manufacturers.
In the market-share stakes, Nokia increased its share to 39.9% while Samsung and LG were also net winners with 16% and 8.4%, respectively. Motorola continued to lose market share (falling 2.6%) to 9.5%, while it was more of a surprise that Sony Ericsson lost market share (down to 7.7%). It may be the case that that Sony’s Walkman and CyberShot lineups are in need of a substantial refresh.
Additionally, WCDMA continues to build momentum with shipment volumes that are up 44% YoY – but no one should count out GSM, as GSM-enabled handsets grew 17% in the quarter.
The market is still very much dominated by the “Big Five” manufacturers, but an innovative tier of manufacturers (RIM, HTC, Apple) has been stirring up interest in smartphones and will soon be joined by a new class of mobile device: MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices). MIDs made their debut last year, but vendors such as Lenovo, Aigo, and Asus are expected to drive growth rapidly.
“Mobile device shipment volumes show no sign of abating in growth, despite the uncertain economy,” says research director Kevin Burden. “ABI Research expects 2008 to top out at 1.28 billion devices shipped – a 12% increase YoY – but these volumes could be subject to the overall global economic climate.” [ABI Research]
Sony Ericsson Adds Veveo Video Discovery Service
Mobile video service provider Veveo announced an agreement with Sony Ericsson to launch its vtap web video discovery service via the handset maker's video-enabled devices and web portal.
According to Veveo, vtap promises access to more than 150 million web videos, enabling users to efficiently search, view and collect relevant video content from sites including YouTube, DailyMotion and MySpace--intuitive browsing automatically groups results together into folders, which offers users a choice between incremental search and dynamically-created menus.
The vtap service also maintains a continually-updated mobile web video index spotlighting the most current and relevant content. The service is now available on Sony Ericsson Java Platform 8-enabled handsets including the Z770i, K850i, W910i, K660i, W890i, Z750i as well as the JP7 models W880i, K810i, T650i, K530i, W580i, K770i, W660i. [FierceMobileContent]
Sony Ericsson G700: Simplify Your Life With a Touchscreen Capabilities
The Sony Ericsson G700 has a 2.4" 262K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution. The compact device features a touchscreen display and smartphone capabilities. The G700 also comes with a 3 megapixel camera. It doesn't have auto focus, but offers image and video stabilization, which is not that great a deal actually.
3G support with video calls is also on board, along with stereo Bluetooth and an M2 memory card slot. Sony Ericsson also made a big deal of their Notes applications that allows you to organize your life with electronic yellow Sticky Notes (they come in other colors, too).
“Sony Ericsson is delivering touchscreen and innovative organiser capabilities to a wide audience without compromising on the size or shape of the phone. The G700 (and G900) have regular keyboards and are no larger than a regular phone.” says Martin Winkler, Director Global Marketing and Head of Multimedia Web at Sony Ericsson. “These phones are ideal for users that are only interested in making their lives simpler. It’s not about technology for the sake of it.”
Sony Ericsson G700 phone
- One-touch full organiser functions
- Touch controlled Notes application - write and draw your memo's
- Large 2.4" display with unique single touch control menu
- 3,2 megapixel camera
- Compact size
Calendar is King
Access your calendar, reach family and friends and scribble and save your notes on your phone. With the G700, you can jot down a note on the screen with a stylus, just as you would with a pen on paper, and save it on your phone’s desktop to remind you - just as you’d stick a note on the fridge.
You can even draw a map to the local shop or doodle personal notes to send them to your loved ones! Holding everything that is important to you wherever you go, the G700 is the most natural way to manage life. There’s no longer a need to have your home calendar separate from work – it works with you, the way you do.
Multimedia
Sony Ericsson G700 comes with the Media Center that we've seen on some of the latest Sony Ericsson feature phones. It provides one-click access to your photos, music, and video. You are able to sort music by filters as year, genre, albums, tracks, playlists, podcasts, etc. If you want to find a particular song, but know just a part of its name, don't worry, just type it in, and the phone will automatically find and display it.
Intuitively simple
With the G700 you can enjoy touchscreen text input, Web surfing, calendar and phone navigation. Want to contact someone at home? Just touch the relevant name in your phonebook and all of the various contact options will appear onscreen. It’s instantly intuitive messaging. You can even browse your photo album using the tip of your finger. The G700 also has dedicated keys for messaging, notes and a key lock on the side of the phone. All it takes is one press to unlock.
General
2G Network - GSM 900 / 1800 / 19003G Network - UMTS 2100
Features
OS - Symbian OS, UIQ
Messaging - SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, Instant Messaging
Browser - WAP 2.0/HTML (Opera), RSS reader
Games - Yes + downloadable
Colors - Silk Bronze
Camera - 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera
- Java MIDP 2.0
- FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player
- Handwriting recognition
- StickyNotes
- TrackID music recognition
- Picture editor/blogging
- Document reader/editor
- Organiser
- Stopwatch
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo/dial
Sony Ericsson C902 Cyber-shot – Nice and Easy
Sony Ericsson C902 is the new Cyber-shot squad member. The C902 designation does break a mold, as all previous Cyber-shot models belonged to the K-series. It's now C for Cyber-shot, nice and easy.
Sony Ericsson C902 has a surprisingly small 2" 262K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution. When the display is off, it does look like at least a 2.2 incher, but with the lights on the reason for this size is obvious - there are eight touch sensitive camera keys that backlight in blue around the display.
Ultra-compact, stylish and with a unique lens cover that slides open to reveal the 5.0 megapixel Face Detection and Auto Focus camera, the C902 Cyber-shot sports a camera performance beyond its sleek and slim looks. The phone’s lighting dramatically signals when you are in camera mode by switching from white to blue. The eight camera touch keys come to life and let you choose between camera modes, Photo Flash, Face Detection and Auto Focus, and more with just one touch without moving your finger from the shutter button.
With the C902 Cyber-shot you just need to slide open the active lens cover and shoot. The Face Detection and Auto Focus capability enables the camera to detect and focus on the face of your subject rather than the background, so that you can take sharp and high quality pictures of your friends.
Bringing the new C902 Cyber-shot you can be confident of getting the perfect shot. The phone incorporates the latest in lighting technology – Photo Flash – giving you better quality pictures even in low-light conditions. Also, a light solution has been added to the established BestPic™ feature – which lets you take nine photos in quick succession, choose the best and delete the rest. So now you can use BestPic™ wherever you are, perhaps even to capture the dance-floor action in a club!
You can create your own multi-media slideshow. Use x-Pict story™ to add music and transitions to your gallery of photos and automatically create your own multi-media slideshow to share with your friends. Lights, music, action!
The C902 Cyber-shot comes with a 160MB built-in memory – the equivalent of storage for up to 100 full resolution photos – plus the possibility to add even more memory with the Memory Stick Micro™ (M2) that can be bundled with the phone depending on the market.
The multimedia package includes Media player with the Mega Bass equalizer preset, TV out, FM radio with RDS, TrackID. A 3D Need for Speed game is on top of the regular stuff in the entertainment sector. Bluetooth with A2DP makes sure music can be enjoyed on a wireless stereo headset.
The C902 is a global phone with quad-band GSM /EDGE support. The European version of the phone will also feature HSDPA (3.6 Mbps) for fast data transfers. The versions for America (Sony Ericsson C902a) and China Mainland (Sony Ericsson C902c) lack HSDPA support.
Sony Ericsson C902 will be available from Q2 2008 in Swift Black and Luscious Red. /PR
Features:
Messaging - SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser - WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader
Games - Yes + downloadable
Colors - Swift Black, Luscious Red
Camera - 5 MP, 2592Ñ…1944 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera
- 8 illuminated camera touch keys
- Java MIDP 2.0
- FM radio with RDS
- MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player
- TrackID music recognition
- Picture editor/blogging
- Organiser
- Built-in handsfree
- Voice memo/dial
General:
2G Network - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network - HSDPA 2100 - C902i only
Data:
GPRS - Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
EDGE - Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G - HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Bluetooth - Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
USB - Yes, v2.0
Sony Ericsson G900: Touch and Go
Sony Ericsson announced a handful of promissing devices at the Congress this year and after the Sony Ericsson G700 preview yesterday, we're now having a closer look at its bigger brother - the Sony Ericsson G900 UIQ smartphone.
The Sony Ericsson G900 is physically identical to the G700 with a 2.4" 262K-color TFT display of QVGA resolution. However the G900 has more to offer than its sibling - bringing Wi-Fi support and a 5 megapixel auto focus camera it looks set to cause high-tech high-end excitement.
As with the G700, UMTS support with video calls is also on board, along with stereo Bluetooth and an M2 memory card slot. Sony Ericsson also made a big deal of their Notes applications that allows you to organize your life with electronic yellow Sticky Notes (they come in other colors, too).
Sony Ericsson G700 (bronze) compared to Sony Ericsson G900 (black): the devices have different designs. Sexy is the last thing to call Sony Ericsson G900, but we couldn't resist trying some creative photography on it. It does pull off an occasional beauty shot.
Sony Ericsson have put a great deal of effort in optimizing the UIQ user interface for thumb use. Some controls have gotten bigger - especially the multimedia and camera ones. You have a vast array of user-configurable shortcuts at your disposal to make everyday tasks easier.
The Notes application has also received an upgrade and is now among the phone's main organizing features - a welcome change as we prefer notes over to-do lists for keeping track of our daily schedule. The new task manager also makes it easier to control and switch between the currently running applications.
You won't hear us comment on the features of the UIQ smartphone interface here. Those remain the same throughout the Sony Ericsson latest phones and if you are interested in finding out more you're welcome to return to our Sony Ericsson W960 review - all beside the Walkman today screen holds true for the G900.
We've already previewed the Sony Ericsson G700 too, so if you've read that, you are most likely to come across the same features twice. There are differences in the camera part, so don't miss that.
Touchscreen - finger navigation. Easy, intuitive, finger-friendly touchscreen operation: you just touch the screen to navigate your phone. And if you prefer using a stylus or a pointer, they work fine, too.
Handwriting Recognition. Text input using stylus on touchscreen: write a character as you would with a pen, and it transforms it into the corresponding letter on a keyboard.
3G. Quick and easy access to broadband Internet. Say hello to video calls, audio and video streaming, Internet surfing, multimedia messaging and email on the go.
RSS feeds. Use your phone to view up-to-the-minute news and other content from selected Web sites and blogs. Just subscribe to the feed and let it come to you. New content is available in standby on the main display.
Web wherever. Truly mobile Internet lets you enjoy browsing the Web and manage your email effectively with the convenience of your phone, wherever you are.
Blog your life. The easy way to share your life in pictures. Take or choose a photo, add a little text and publish it for friends and family to enjoy.
Features
- OS : Symbian OS, UIQ
- Messaging : SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, Instant Messaging
- Browser : WAP 2.0/HTML (Opera), RSS reader
- Games : Yes + downloadable
- Colors : Dark Red, Dark Brown
- Camera : 5 MP, 2592Ñ…1944 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video, flash; secondary videocall camera
- Connectivity: 2G Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G Network: UMTS 2100
Ericsson Debuts Multimedia Communication Suite
Technology provider Ericsson unveiled the Ericsson Multimedia Communication Suite (MCS), a new mobile user interface promising more intuitive access to mobile messaging and presence applications. Launched via Sony Ericsson feature devices including the W760, the Ericsson MCS solutions enables consumers to access new address book features like avatars, photos and personal free text, with presence features keeping track of contacts and their respective applications.
The MCS applications are integrated with existing voice, video and messaging services, promoting additional handset services as consumers share their everyday experiences with family and friends.
"We see from studies that the communication patterns are changing, messaging type of services is dominating and the demand for enriched communication is here," said Ericsson head of multimedia solutions Claes Ödman in a prepared statement. "With our Multimedia Communication Suite we can take the consumer experience one step further, making it easier with intuitive interface and allow people to communicate in a richer way."
With the Ericsson MCS, mobile operators will be able to offer their customers a suite of attractive services. Consumers will be able to access new and existing services from the address book - with an interface including rich presence functionality such as avatars, photos and personal free text. The solution also keeps track of friends and their applications so consumers will always see who is available for different applications. The user has full control over what type of information is available.
The Internet has evolved from being mainly information and content oriented to becoming more communication and people related. Through extensive consumer research done by Ericsson ConsumerLab in Europe, Asia and USA, there are clear signs that communication services on the Internet, like communities, blogs, instant messaging etc, are also demanded in a mobile context. Our study shows that enriched communication services like chat, sending files and presence on the mobile phone, are of very great interest to consumers.
The intuitive user interface integrates new MCS applications such as chat and file transfer smoothly with existing voice, video call, SMS and MMS services. Having all contacts and services available through one presence-enabled address book creates a feeling of being closer to friends and family. This stimulates new types of spontaneous communication using both existing and new services.
Ericsson has learned from its consumer research that today's communication is about so much more than just making announcements it has evolved into the sharing of everyday experiences. Presence alone with personal messages and avatars will be of great interest to many consumers supporting everyday sharing of experiences.
The MCS is built on IMS architecture and is aligned with the industry initiative Rich Communication Suite (RCS) that aims for broad industry interoperability and acceptance by utilizing standardized IMS service features. RCS is a group of key operators, infrastructure and device vendors comprised of Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, TeliaSonera, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung, who have joined in an effort to facilitate the evolution of mobile communication toward rich communication. [FierceMobileContent/PR]
Sony Ericsson Unveiles New High-end Windows Mobile Phone - Xperia X1
On the eve of the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Sony Ericsson debuted a series of new devices, including the Xperia X1, a high-end Windows Mobile slider phone with a qwerty keyboard and a nine-panel touchscreen interface.
The phone is available in GSM, GPRS and EDGE in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. It is available in UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.
The phone, which features WiFi connectivity and AGPS capability, will debut in the second half of 2008.
This is the first Sony Ericsson Windows Mobile device -- a surprise since Ericsson is a shareholder in Symbian and has launched 10 phones using the Symbian OS platform. At the press conference last night, Sony Ericsson executives tried to downplay the use of Windows Mobile on its Xperia device, however it caused quite a stir among the media in attendance.
But Xperia X1 isn't the only device Sony Ericsson debuted. The company also announced two new Cybershot phones -- the G702 and the G902. The 702 features a 3.2 megapixel camera while the 902 has a 5 megapixel camera and can store up to 700 photos.
Also new to the Sony Ericsson lineup is a Z770 Web phone, a W980 clamshell music phone that can store 8,000 songs, two G-series phones -- the G700 and G900 which target the Web user -- and two HSPA laptop cards.
Sony Ericsson W980 Walkman Phone Brings an Unrivalled Music Experience
Sony Ericsson just revealed the W980, a Walkman phone that promises to get the most out of your music. Its unique audio enhancing technology, together with the Walkman on Top design, sees the W980 cement Sony Ericsson’s position as a true market leader in the world of music on your mobile.
“The W980 Walkman phone really sets a new standard for music on your phone,” said Ben Padley, Head of Music Marketing, at Sony Ericsson. “We wanted to design a leading music player that we could combine with a feature-packed phone, all the while pioneering an audio experience that always left you wanting more. The W980 will surpass all expectations.”
It is designed to allow you to listen to music as it should be heard. Clear stereo enables the music to sound like the original recording. Clear bass delivers distortion free sound even at higher volumes. These features combine with the premium headphones, the Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-77, to deliver an incredible clear audio experience and music that sounds as true as possible to the original recording
Quality music is made for sharing with the W980. Unplug your headset, sit back and let the music flow through the integrated stereo speakers for all to enjoy. Select a track from the extensive music library – the W980 lets you store up to 8000 songs – or tune in to your favourite radio station and listen out loud. No need to plug in an FM Receiver, since this is on-board with the W980.
A built-in FM transmitter allows you to send whatever’s playing on your phone to other devices with a built-in FM radio receiver. This gives you the ability to share your music with all those around you, whether through a friend’s hi-fi or your car stereo.
With the recent evolution of PlayNow™ arena, Sony Ericsson’s popular over-the-air (OTA) and web download service being launched this May, you will be able to access up to 5 million tracks to maximise your music collection. The W980’s TrackID™ feature makes the W980 a genuine gateway to great music, as you can download the track instantly once it has been identified.
You can tailor the W980’s Walkman player to the music that you’re listening to. This phone provides a choice of eight equaliser presets, each of which contains a distinct profile that is suitable to a range of music. So whether you’re listening to jazz, pop or heavy metal, you’ve can always choose the best sound for the song.
Every music enthusiast knows that a great audio experience requires great quality speakers or headphones. The W980 Walkman phone comes with the new Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-77; a headset that lets you enjoy music in powerful stereo sound. The HPM-77 also allows users to take their calls handsfree, and its sleek design and in-ear wearing-style mean that it’s both comfortable and reduces background noise to the bare minimum.
Whether listening via the headphones or the stereo speakers, the W980 Walkman phone is a must-have for those who want an unrivalled music experience, which they carry with them every minute of the day. It is a UMTS/HSDPA 2100 GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 phone that will be available in selected markets from Q3 2008. /PR
Music and Entertainment 
• Walkman player
• Clear stereo
• Clear bass
• Album art
• FM transmitter
• Shake control
• SensMe™
• PlayNow™
• TrackID™
• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
• Music tones (MP3/AAC)
• 3D games
• Java™
• FM radio with RDS
• Video streaming
• Video viewing
Connectivity
• Bluetooth™ technology
• Modem
• Synchronization
• Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync®
• USB mass storage
• USB support
Optional
• Active Speaker MAS-100 (protective case with built-in speaker and FM radio antenna: Bring and share your music outdoors)
• Bluetooth™ Car Speakerphone HCB-150 (a portable handsfree solution for use in the car)
• Music Portable Bluetooth™ Speaker MBS-100 (designed for rich sound)
• Music Desk Stand CDS-75 (the smart and convenient way to charge your phone)
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