Day: February 6, 2007

“The announcement of the Sony Ericsson W880 was just today and we are more than proud to present you with an exclusive GSMArena review for your reading pleasure. Bear in mind that the test handset we got was a stable beta version and it is possible that there might be some minor differences in the final retail version. The retail package of the Sony Ericsson W880 will include 1GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card, a USB cable, and a stereo headset.The Sony Ericsson W880 will be available in two color variations – black and silver. The one we got to test was the black version. In fact black is the color of the front panel only – the entire back panel is styled in dark orange – the proprietary Walkman color. Besides the regular Sony Ericsson W880 there will also be a version designated as Sony Ericsson W888. It will be manufactured for the Chinese market and will not include 3G connectivity and video telephony.” Read more about this great phone here:Update: Another great review is here:

Palm, Inc. today announced the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 750 smartphone, previously available on Vodafone’s 3G/UMTS network since September 2006 in the UK and across much of Western Europe, will be made generally available across Europe via Palm’s online store (http://eurostore.palm.com) and from retail outlets in the coming month, beginning Feb. 6. This move broadens the customer base that will be able to benefit from the Palm experience on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile(R) 5.0 operating system and adds HSDPA capability, underlining Palm’s commitment to its European customers. The Treo 750 combines the hallmark Palm experience of a multifeatured mobile phone with email, messaging, web browsing and organization software all in a compact design. Among the software on the Treo 750 smartphone will be Microsoft’s Pocket MSN, giving users access to MSN services, such as instant messaging and support for MSN Hotmail accounts within Outlook Mobile.(1) The device will be compatible with 3G UMTS/HSDPA networks.(2) UMTS/HSDPA is a global standard and natural 3G evolutionary path for GSM providers. “The Treo 750 smartphone — made available first with Vodafone in Europe and recently announced with Cingular Wireless in the United States — continues to expand our customer reach globally,” said Roy Bedlow, vice president, Palm EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). “There are over 5 million Treo smartphones sold globally to date, and continuing to expand the Treo footprint is a key focus for Palm. The addition of HSDPA is just one of the great benefits the new Treo 750 smartphone has to offer professionals who want a strong mobile computing experience.” The Treo 750 smartphone runs Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition, offering users access to Outlook applications as well as the ability to view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files and view PowerPoint and PDF files. The touch screen makes surfing websites, gathering data and navigating forms and applications much easier. The Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) is available out of the box with the Treo 750 and includes Direct Push Technology, which gives users connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server fast, automatic wireless updates of their email, calendar items, contacts and tasks.(3) It provides added security features for IT administrators, such as over-the-air password policy enforcement and remote wipe for lost or stolen devices. MSFP also gives users over-the-air lookup of a company’s Global Address List (GAL), providing employees with quick access to colleagues’ email and contact information. The Treo 750 offers mobile professionals other corporate email options, including streamlined access to Microsoft Exchange. Unique to the Treo smartphone on Windows Mobile 5.0 is a suite of software enhancements developed by Palm that underscores its brand promise of fast access, ease of use and simplicity. Examples include the following: — Threaded chat view for text and MMS messages; — Today Screen enhancements, which feature the ability to “dial by name” with a few keystrokes on the keyboard, perform a web search directly from the Today Screen and perform one-touch dialing with personalized photo speed dials; — Ability to manage a call directly from the Today Screen and stay on top of voicemail with on-screen, VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and fast-forward controls for easy navigation; and — Capability to ignore a call and quickly send a text message such as “In a meeting” or “Can’t talk right now” by selecting the “Ignore with text” option from the incoming call screen. More information on the Palm Treo 750 smartphone is available at http://euro.palm.com/uk/products/treo750. About Palm, Inc. Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people’s hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company’s products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones and Palm handheld computers, as well as software, services and accessories. Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store). More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com. (1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Availability and coverage depends upon carrier and the geographic scope of international roaming agreements. Email, messaging and web access requires data services at an additional cost. (2) Designed to be compatible with networks implementing GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS standards, but networks may not be available in all countries or within countries in which it is deployed. (3) MSFP requires Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 and access enabled by IT administrator. Palm and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners. SOURCE: Palm, Inc.

Sony Ericsson today announces two new Walkman phones; the W880/W888 and W610 build on the success of hit-models such as the W810 and to broaden the appeal of the Walkman phone. 20 million Walkman phones have been sold to date. Sony Ericsson also announces a suite of music accessories designed to enhance the Walkman phone listening experience.At just 9.4mm thin, the W880/W888 is the slimmest Sony Ericsson phone yet and combines the full Walkman phone experience with a device that fits easily into your pocket. The 1GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) provided in-box gives you room to store up to 900 full length tracks*, whilst the host of innovative music applications (such as Walkman Player 2.0 & Disc2Phone) make it easy to get music onto your phone in the first place & search through play lists once its there. All of this, plus a 2.0 megapixel camera, is packed into a UMTS phone that’s as slim as a standard CD case. The W610 Walkman phone is all about the detail, whether this is detail in design that builds on the look of earlier Walkman phones or the detailed combination of mobile music with a credible digital camera. The W610 stores up to 470 full-length music tracks* on the 512MB Memory Stick Micro (M2) provided, and offers the inventive TrackID music recognition application; a feature that lets the user record a clip of an unknown music track onto their phone and immediately receive a notification of the track name, artist and album. Add to this a 2.0 megapixel camera with auto focus and the W610 is a credible fusion of phone, music player & digital camera.“Our Walkman phones have proven to be phenomenally attractive to our consumers – we have sold 20 million Walkman® phones since launch – and we are continuously developing the portfolio to extend their appeal,” says Steve Walker, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “The W880/W888 and W610 prove how the Walkman® phone can appeal to different lifestyles – the W880/W888 is a hi-specification device that looks every bit as good as it sounds. And the W610 Walkman® phone combines the best in both music player & digital camera, whilst first & foremost remaining a phone that’s intuitive and pleasurable to use.” The W880/W888 represents a milestone in the Walkman® phone portfolio. Although without doubt one of the slimmest music phones available with a 1GB capacity, the true beauty of its design is seen in the brushed stainless steel finish and the stand-out colour variants; either Steel Silver or Flame Black. Of course, the W880/W888 is about more than just good looks. The Disc2Phone music management software allows the user to transfer their tracks easily and with no fuss from PC straight onto the phone. With Bluetooth Audio Streaming, all of that music can be enjoyed wirelessly on a Stereo Bluetooth Headset such as the HBH-DS970, or by streaming music directly to a home or car stereo (via the new Music Bluetooth™ Receiver MBR-100). Importantly for a music phone, all of this functionality has been introduced without having to compromise on battery life. The W880/W888 delivers up to 18 hours music listening time & features a Flight Mode which allows the phone to be switched-off in mobile-prohibited environments. The W880 Walkman® phone is a UMTS 2100 GPRS 900/1800/1900 music phone and will be available in selected markets from Q1 2007. The W888 Walkman® phone is a GSM variant, minus the video telephony functionality, intended specifically for China where 3G services are not established. The W610 Walkman® phone is a fully specified music phone that does not compromise on its digital camera offering. As well as the 2.0 megapixel camera with auto focus, video recording and playback, the W610 provides a horizontal camera menu – so that the user holds it as they would a regular camera when taking a picture – and a Picture blogging facility for uploading photo’s direct to a user’s online blog site. Switching back to the music credentials, the W610 includes an RDS FM Radio to brighten up the daily commute or trip to the gym. In fact, the only compromise with the W610 Walkman® phone is choosing between the two colour options; will it be Plush Orange or Satin Black? The W610 Walkman® phone is an EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 music camera phone and will be available in selected markets from Q2 2007. The Perfect Musical AccompanimentsSony Ericsson also announces 2 new music accessories that make your Walkman® phone a complete music listening centre. Users can listen to the music on their phone in hi-fi sound quality with the Bluetooth™ Music Receiver MBR-100. This discreet accessory streams music via Bluetooth™ from the user’s phone straight to a home or car stereo, using the phone as a remote control to alter the volume or skip through tracks. The 3.5mm input or RCA cable provided fits most home or car hi-fi systems. The MBR-100 was announced in January 2007 and will be available from Q1 2007. Of course, if a user wishes to share their tunes, no matter where they are, they can do this with the Portable Speakers MPS-70. Light on power as well as weight, these compact speakers plug into the phone, contain an FM antenna for improved radio reception and will also run off the phone’s battery. Tuned for Sony Ericsson phones, the MPS-70 delivers great sound and, with a design that’s a true match for Walkman® phones, no one will want to leave home without them. Available from Q2 2007.
W880/W888 and W610 at a glance:

W880/W888
W610
Music
1GB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) in boxWalkman® player 2.0Up to 18h music playback Flight modeDisc-2-phone OMA DRM 2.0TrackID™ PlayNow™Bluetooth Audio Streaming (A2DP)
512MB Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) in boxWalkman® player 2.0Up to 25h music playbackFlight modeDisc-2-phoneOMA DRM 2.0TrackID™PlayNow™ 3.0Bluetooth Audio Streaming (A2DP)
Imaging & Messaging
Streaming audio/video 2.0 megapixel cameraHorizontal camera UIPicture BloggingVideo recording and video playbackPictBridgeVideoDJ™ PhotoDJ™Face warp applicationIM & Presence
Streaming audio/video2.0 megapixel camera with auto focusHorizontal camera UIPicture BloggingVideo recording and video playbackAdvanced LED lightPictBridgeVideoDJ™ PhotoDJ™Face warp applicationIM & Presence
Connectivity
Full HTML browser with RSSVideo TelephonyBluetooth 2.0Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) slotUSB Mass StoragePC Synchronization and Java MIDP 2.0
Full HTML browser with RSSPush EmailBluetooth™ 2.0Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) slotUSB Mass storagePC SynchronizationJava MIDP 2.0
Form Factor & Screen Size/ Resolution
9.4mm thin Stainless steel finish1.8” QVGA 262k TFT display
14mm thinPremium material1.9 inch 262K TFT LCD display
Accessories
Music Bluetooth™ Receiver MBR-100Stereo Bluetooth™ Headset HBH-DS970Bluetooth™ Watch MBW-100
Portable Speakers MPS-70Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-85Music Cable MMC-60
Availability and versions
UMTS 2100GSM 900/1800/1900Talk time: Up to 6 hours 30 mins (GSM) Music Playing time: Up to 20 hoursStandby time: Up to 425 hoursAvailable in selected markets from Q1 2007
EDGE 850/900/1800/1900Talk time: Up to 7 hoursMusic Playing time: Up to 25 hoursStandby time: Up to 350 hoursAvailable in selected markets from Q2 2007
* Subject to preloaded phone content. Number of songs based on the assumption that songs are in eAAC+ format (approximately 1MB per song).
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories and PC-cards. Established as a joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in 2001, with global corporate functions located in London, the company employs over 7,500 people worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. Sony Ericsson celebrated the 5th anniversary of the start of the joint venture on 1st October, 2006.
Sony Ericsson is the global title sponsor of the Women’s Tennis Association, and works with the Association to promote the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in over 80 cities during the year.
For more information on Sony Ericsson, please visit www.sonyericsson.com.
The marble logo, TrackID, MusicDJ, VideoDJ, PhotoDJ and PlayNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony, Cyber-shot, Memory Stick Micro, M2 and Walkman are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. TrackID™ is powered by Gracenote Mobile MusicID™. Gracenote and Gracenote Mobile MusicID are trademarks of Gracenote, Inc. Ericsson is a trademark or registered trademark of Telfonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Bluetooth is a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG and is used under license. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:Sony Ericsson Corporate Communications & PRMerran Wrigley – Telephone: +44 (0) 208 762 8562Garry Lockwood – Telephone +44 (0) 208 762 5879General Press Telephone: +44 (0) 208 762 5858E-mail: press.global@SonyEricsson.com