Buy Now...

The wires, or should that be the airwaves, have been buzzing of late with rumours of some new products that are about to emerge from Sony Ericsson. Well now is the time to reveal details about these new offerings. However, while Sony Ericsson may have lifted the veil regarding model numbers, feature lists and appearances, pricing is another matter altogether as mentions of contracts and subsidies tend to cloud the issue.

Available now, although I must admit I have not popped along to my local telephony store to check whether they are actually in stock, is the K300 camera phone with VGA resolution and 4X digital zoom. The K300, available in either Visual Blue or Smooth Silver (Sony Ericsson’s terminology – not mine) has 12MB of on-board memory which should be enough to store 120 10-second video clips or 500 VGA images. It has a 65K colour screen for viewing stills and video clips while the built-in QuickShare technology should enable users to send video, picture or text messages with a minimum of clicks. When not being used in its prime modes of phone or camera, the K300 can act as a PIM (Personal Information Manager) or to play downloadable 2D and 3D Java games.

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Moving on to the J300, described as being the fun phone that entertains and inspires, this phone should be available in the second quarter of this year. As with the previous model, the J300 has 12MB of on-board memory and, what is described as being, a high quality screen decorating its slim, curved body. It has a 3D game engine and comes with the option of a free game download of Rayman 3. Other games will also be available.

By taking advantage of Sony Ericsson’s PlayNow service, users will be able to audition and download new music tones direct to their phone with just three clicks. If the choice of pink, black or white does not appeal, then you can customise the look of this device with a variety of designs ranging from ultra-stylish to completely zany (maybe a picture of yourself or family member).

Also available in the second quarter will be the black or silver K750 camera phone. This is a two mega-pixel device that features auto-focus, 4X digital zoom, red eye reduction and an intuitive user interface. It can be used in conjunction with the optional extra Sony Ericsson Phone Flash MXE-60 for taking pictures in the dark from several metres away. The K750 has 32MB of internal memory and comes with a 64MB Memory Stick Duo for additional storage capability. Both Bluetooth and infrared are supported and you also get a USB cable for transferring images to a computer.

This phone features an integrated MP3 player and FM radio. Tools are provided for the user to create animations, personalised ring tones and sound effects plus enhance their photographs. Games have not been forgotten. The K750 has a 3D Java games engine.

Slightly further in the future, sometime in the third quarter, Sony Ericsson will be launching its first Walkman phone. This entry into the mobile music market is being spearheaded by the W800. Built on to the telephony features and a two mega-pixel camera will be a high quality digital music player. The whole kit and caboodle weighs in at less than 100g. Headphones are supplied.

Software is provided to help download music to the player in either MP3 of AAC music file formats. Storage is taken care of by the supplied 0.5GB Memory Stick Duo which should be enough for 120-130 tracks or 10-12 CDs. Later there will be the option to buy tracks online. Features, such as browse, sort and find, are supported. Battery life for the device should be up to 30 hours with the phone switched off or 15 hours with the phone on.

Complementing the phones, Sony Ericsson has introduced a number of accessories. For those who want to transfer the content of their phone to the television or hi-fi, there is the Bluetooth Media Centre MMK-200. Already mentioned earlier is the Photo Flash MXE-60. Hands-free users can opt for the Akono Headset HBH-608 or HBH-662. The latter unit can provide caller identification and call duration time. Also available will be the Music Cable MMC-60, Stereo Portable Hands-free HDM-70 and an Advanced Car Hands-free HCA-60 kit.