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Music, images and Bluetooth connectivity are all featured in the latest Sony Ericsson new phone product line-up recently announced at an establishment known as The Hospital. I suppose Sony Ericsson's PR company might suggest that the choice of location was just in case the gathered journalists were so overcome by the new products that some form of medical attention might be required. However, interesting as the new products were, I saw nobody suffering from a case of hype-itist.
Taking pride of place in the new line-up were the first two Cyber-shot phones. These were the K800 dual mode phone and the K790 tri-band offering. Available by the middle of the year like all the products mentioned in this report, these Cyber-shot phones combine all the normal communication features you would expect from Sony Ericsson (music, video and games to mention just a few) with a new higher level of image quality not previously seen in mobile phones. Capable of 3.2 mega pixels, these two units have built-in auto-focus, Xenon flash and an image stabiliser function.
Simply slide the lens cover and the phone immediately switches to camera mode and displays the image on its 2.0 inch QVGA screen. The unit's 64MB of internal memory should allow for the saving of 100 pictures at 3.2 mega pixels. With the Cyber-shot brand, Sony Ericsson has introduced its Bestpic technology which enables the camera to capture images even before the shutter release is totally depressed. As soon as the automatic focusing kicks in the camera grabs four images before the actual shot and then continues to capture the next four images. The user can then pick and choose which of the nine images are saved for future use.
Both Cyber-shot phones support PictBridge and the ability to post images direct onto a Blog. Sony Ericsson has entered into an agreement with Goggle to host this feature with the automatic setting up of a Picture Blog the first time an image is sent to this service. Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 and Memory Stick Micro are all featured in this velvet black device.
Of course not everybody will have the financial resources to pay out the expected price point of £300 for the Cyber-shot products. Not wishing to disappoint the more price-sensitive sector of the market, Sony Ericsson has introduced some other models. Described as a mass market clamshell phone, the W300 is the latest to join its Walkman family. Available in either Shimmering White or Shadow Black (who dreams up these colours), the phone comes with a 256MB Memory Stick Micro with 9.5 talk-time and up to 400 hours standby. Estimated pricing puts this model at sub £200.
Three new models have been added to Sony Ericsson's basic camera phone range. At the low end there is K310 which integrates a misty silver or shadow blue phone with a VGA camera at under £80. Next up is the K510. Naturally available in a choice of colours, this time you can select from midnight black or polished purple, this phone supports standard push email technology. It has a 262K TFT display and a 1.3 mega pixel camera at a sub £100 price point. Complete the new phone offerings is the Z530 which adopts a clamshell design. This phone is available in a choice of chromic grey, soft black or elegant red and has a thumbnail photo album with time-line search built-in. Expect a price of around £150 for this model.
Also announced were three new Bluetooth headsets. For those looking for a headset that can be comfortably worn for long periods, Sony Ericsson offers the HBH-GV435 model. Providing up to 12 hours of talk-time and 300 hours on standby, the HBH-PV705 product is lightweight and compact. Completing this trio is the hook-less, push-in wearing solution offered by the HBH-IV835 model.
The final new item announced by Sony Ericsson is the Bluetooth Car Speakerphone (HCB-100). This battery powered or via the cigarette lighter socket device clips on to the car visor and offers 20 hours of talk-time and 600 hours on standby. It promises to allow drivers the option to have hands-free communication while driving.
http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=gb&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ph1&zone=ph
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