Though Sony Ericsson didn’t mention what radios will be supported on the handset, it could be safe to assume that the GSM handset will work on either AT&T or T-Mobile USA. It’s unclear if Sony Ericsson will deliver two variants of the handset, each compatible with one carrier’s 3G bands.

The Android 2,3-powered smartphone was unveiled earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show with a slim, curved profile, a 4,2-inch Reality Display with the Mobile Bravia Engine, an 8-megapixel camera with Sony Exmor R for mobile sensor for low-light image capture, and Android Market compatibility.

Press release:
State-of-the-art Sony Technology in the slimmest smartphone on the market

- Loaded with Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA^® engine and Sony’s Exmor R™ camera imaging sensor

- Powered by the latest version of Android™ 2,3

- Available in the United States beginning August 2011

ATLANTA, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Ericsson today announced that the super-slim, stunningly designed Xperia™ arc will be available starting August at Sony Retail stores and store.sony.com for $599.99. It will also be available onAmazon.com, Newegg.com, and Buy.com. Please check with individual retailers for pricing and availability. The Xperia™ arc runs on the latest Android 2,3 platform and will feature the best of Sony technology, making this device one of the most powerful multimedia smartphones on the market.

«At Sony Ericsson, we strive to bring consumers the best in mobile entertainment in superior smartphone design,” said Peter Farmer, Head of Marketing for North America, Sony Ericsson. «The Xperia™ arc certainly delivers an entertaining smartphone experience and breathtaking design that has generated rave reviews in other markets and we’re thrilled to make it available to U.S. customers.”

The Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc combines the best of Android and Sony into one beautiful and easy-to-use device. Offering top of its class Sony technology with the Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, the Xperia™ arc delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image, which enhances the overall entertainment experience. This smartphone also features Sony’s award-winning Exmor R™ for mobile sensor with its 8,1 megapixel camera, enabling high quality bright pictures and HD videos even in low light. All pictures and videos can easily be shared in HD on your living room TV via the built in HDMI-connector.

The Xperia™ arc’s eye-catching curvature design allows it to fit perfectly in the user’s hand. The smartphone is just 8,7 mm at its thinnest part and has an extra wide 4,2-inch multi-touch screen.

* Gaming console capabilities are fun
* Good display
* Comfortable gaming pad, with good button placement
* On-screen keypad is comfortable
* Android 2,3 preinstalled; no pushing and shoving for upgrades

Cons

* Extremely bulky form factor
* No 720p HD video recording capability
* Bad battery life

The Xperia Play, a.k.a., the PlayStation Phone, had the rumour mill running in overdrive ever since it was first suspected to exist, right from the form factor to the specifications. The attracting point was the gaming console capabilities integrated into the smartphone, beyond what we have seen till now, with attempts like the Nokia N-Gage smartphone. With the full blessings from the PlayStation branding, the Play comes with full-fledged gaming hardware.

Look and Feel
Agreed, the Play attempts to add a gaming console control panel to the smartphone, but the end result is disappointingly bulky. The phone feels big, and more so in the company of extremely sleek smartphones, including its own sibling, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc as well as the Dell Venue. However, despite the likes of the HTC Desire Z and the Dell Venue Pro featuring slide out keypads, they are still slimmer than the Xperia Play.

However, moving beyond the bulky form factor of the Xperia Play, we were certainly impressed by the solid build quality of the phone. While it was generally plastic all around, it did have some chrome on the sides. The phone has a 4-inch screen, which would put it into the league of the big screen phones like the HTC HD7, Dell Venue and the Samsung Wave-II. However, surprisingly, the Play doesn’t feel like a big screen phone! Below the screen are four keys- home, return, options and search. The rear panel has the 5MP camera, with flash. The side panels are pretty loaded. The left panel has the 3,5mm audio jack and the microUSB charging port. While the position of the headphone jack works well during gaming, it can be a bit annoying if you are using a wired headset for phone use, and the phone is in the trouser pocket. The right panel has the left and right gaming buttons, as also seen on the PS3 controllers. In the midst of all that, Sony Ericsson have managed to fit in the volume controls as well!

Features
What the Play puts on the table is the best possible modern day example of convergence of gadgets- the smartphone and the portable gaming console. The Play’s power comes from the 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor and the Adreno 205 GPU. Android 2,3, the Gingerbread avatar comes pre-loaded on the phone. The 4-inch display is the LED backlit LCD type, something not often seen on smartphones. However, the display quality is excellent, with vivid colours, hardly any gradation and good visibility in bright sunlight.

The 5MP camera is run-of-the-mill, at par with most 5MP phone cameras out there. However, this one will not replace the digital camera, if you happen to be using one of those. The lack of 720p HD video recording is a glaring absence, which makes us look at the price tag again and wonder in amazement.

The gaming pad is a full-fledged piece of hardware, with complete capabilities, just like a portable gaming console like the PSP. Slide out the controller, and the phone automatically shifts to the gaming mode. However, the transition isn’t very smooth, and there is a momentary black screen before the changeover. However, once the gaming part is well and truly underway, the graphics are great, and very smooth to boot.

The Xperia Play comes with Android 2,3 (Gingerbread) pre-installed. Good thing, since this negates the need to literally stand in line for a possible future upgrade of the OS.

Performance
For a phone that is powered by a 1GHz processor, you would expect it to have a snappy interface. However, this is one disappointment that we cannot fathom. The UI isn’t so slow that it crawls, but it does have its share of stutters and slow moments. Not expected from a phone that costs more than Rs 30k.

The gaming bit is very good. If you haven’t used gaming consoles before, getting used to the button layout will take some time. However, that shouldn’t be a problem if you have used a PlayStation 3 before. The gaming pad fits nicely in the hands, and all buttons are easily in the range of both hands. Playing FIFA 11 on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play was superb fun (even though we were on the losing side!). What is extremely annoying is the fact that you need to download a 30MB file (God knows what that actually is!) before you can play any game for the first time. If you are not near a Wi-Fi hotspot at that time, trouble beckons.

They released the Xperia X10, X10 mini and the recent launch of the Xperia arc and Play (true first gaming device that integrates the PlayStation)… but now it seems that Sony Ericsson is going to resurrect the Cyber-shot. Images have surfaced online that shows a touchscreen device with the «Cyber-shot» branding on the bottom. There are no pics of the back that reveals the camera or flash but the Home, Back and Menu buttons indicate a strong hint of Android.

Almost a year ago in Bert Nordberg, Sony Ericsson’s President & CEO, stated they have an «ambition to become the global number one handset provider on the Android platform». So if these pictures comes to life it’ll be a great addition to the Sony Ericsson Android lineup. Rumour for now and one more pic below.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz from AT&TThis model debuted in Europe earlier this year, but AT&T is going to be the first U.S. carrier to offer it. Exactly when this is going to happen is not yet known, but the Vivaz’s appearance on Sony Ericsson’s website is a clue that the release can’t be far off.

Overview of the Sony Ericsson Vivaz
This smartphone has a tablet shape with a 3,2 inch, HVGA touchscreen. It has a curved back that its maker says is going to be a feature of its future models.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz from AT&TIn its descriptions of this smartphone, Sony Ericsson emphasizes the camera — no surprise, as at 8,1 megapixels this has a higher resolution than virtually all other phones. In addition to hi-res images, it can record HD video.

This camera has additional features like face and smile detection, stabilization software, and a flash.

The Vivaz runs the Symbian operating system with the touch-enabled version of Nokia’s S60 as its user interface.

This comes with a suite of entertainment, communication, and navigation software, including a high-end web browser.

Wireless features of the AT&T version of the Vivaz are going to include support for this carrier’s 3G network, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver.

Also on the specifications list is a microSD memory card slot, FM radio, 3,5 mm audio jack,

Overall, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz is 4,2 x 2,0 x 0,5 inches (107,0 x 52,0 x 12,5 mm) and 3,4 oz.

Announced in a press conference in February, the X10 Mini Pro is slated to be released in the first half of 2010 in Pearl White, Black, and Red; rumours say it should be available by the end of May for an estimated £300+ before taxes and subsidies, but no official information has been released yet. Based off of the design of the Xperia X10, the X10 Mini Pro is a feature-packed compact mobile device, not unlike the X10 Mini, but with a few extras. So we should hopefully not have very long to wait for Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro deals to make their way on to the market.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini ProSony Ericsson has loaded with Mini Pro with plenty of features that belie its tiny size as part of a push to become the new industry standard for high-quality company phones with impressive specs and features. In order to bring the X10 Mini Pro to the forefront of the pack for communication entertainment, Sony Ericsson has included a slide-out QWERTY keyboard to make messaging much more quick and convenient. The Mini Pro also features conversation-style SMS text messaging, MMS multimedia messaging, support for simultaneously e-mail accounts, instant messaging, and predictive text input to speed up your communications.

Similar in size to its cousin, the X10 Mini, the Pro weighs about 120 grams and measures 9 x 5,2 x 1,7 cm, but its size is no indication of its power. With a 600 MHz processor, the X10 Mini Pro can smoothly handle almost anything you throw at it, making interaction with the phone an enjoyable experience without stuttering and slowdowns. Running on an updated version of Sony Ericsson’s UX platform, the X10 Mini Pro features a customisable four-corner touch screen with auto-rotating capability that allows you to easily create shortcuts to your favourite applications on your homescreen in each corner with simple drag-and-drop functionality, and easily access them with a single tap. You can also customize your homescreen with picture wallpapers.

AndroidUtilizing version 1,6 of the popular Android OS, the X10 Mini Pro has native access to the extremely useful Google application suite including Google Maps, Google Search, and a number of other applications. Along with Google Maps, he Mini Pro has aGPS support and Wisepilot turn-by-turn navigation with live voice instruction to help you plan trips and keep you on track as you travel. If you find yourself wanting a bit more functionality, there are plenty of applications in a variety of categories on the Android Market to fit whatever needs you may have. As open-source software with the second highest market penetration and plenty of support, Android allows for nearly unlimited customisation suited to your desires; you can develop your own applications, rewrite software yourself, or access the hundreds of packages already available on the internet to change the way your phone works.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro (3)Sony Ericsson has also included a fairly unique and interesting «Infinite» button that makes it easy to access a variety of context-based information with the press of a single dedicated button. Depending on what you’re viewing at the time, you can instantly check social networks for the latest updates from a friend. get additional info about contacts, find album and artist info on the track you’re listening to, or search for a video on YouTube.

Timescape, Sony Ericsson’s version of HTC’s Friend Stream, gathers all of your social networking communication-Facebook and Twitter status updates, text messages, emails, even call logs-into a single easy-to-navigate stream that keeps you up to date and in touch with your friends, or even see if you’ve missed a chance to talk to them. 3G+ HSPA and Wi-Fi connectivity combine with the Webkit browser to let you access the web anywhere for the latest news and information-with bookmarks, you can easily get to your favourite sites with a single tap. USB and Bluetooth connectivity allow you to easily synchronise your mobile device with your computer to back up all of your data, or connect wirelessly to other devices up to 10 yards away, and ActiveSync makes it possible to connect to a Microsoft Exchange server to sync your corporate calendars and contacts effortlessly.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro (1)To live up to the «entertainment» part of its design, the X10 Mini Pro offers easy access to YouTube and FM Radio to stream music and videos right to your phone so you’re never far from your favourite song or silly cat video. It also includes a full-featured 5-megapixel camera with built-in auto-focus, photo flash, continuous video lighting for recording, and support for geo tagging to add location information to your photos. With integrated Facebook support, you can easily share your latest videos and photos with friends and family in seconds. The Mini Pro’s crisp 240×320 pixel (QVGA) TFT display is capable of displaying more than 16,7 million colours, letting you view all of your pictures in clear, vivid colour.

The Mini Pro also features Sony Ericsson’s Music Player that they’ve perfected in their other phones to offer quality music playback and intuitive interaction. The Music Player can save album art to make browsing what you already have a quick and colourful experience, while the «Infinite» button also makes it easy to check out new music. With a simple press, your phone can instantly gather pertinent information from the PlayNow music store or YouTube so you can buy the track. Likewise, the extremely useful TrackID software allows you to record a few seconds of any song you hear, after which it searches through the online database and within seconds returns album, artist, and track information for a huge collection of music. Bluetooth A2DP stereo offers freedom of movement as you listen to your favourite music, or use the 3,5mm headphone jack for conventional headphones. Up to 16 GB of microSD storage in addition to 128MB of internal memory gives you plenty of space for your music and other media, applications, and games you might find on the PlayNow store or Android Market. Set to be released very soon stay tuned for more Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro reviews shortly.

Nordberg apparently wanted to protect the Sony Ericsson brand. He said that the company would only produce phones under its own brand, and that it wouldn’t be a subcontractor to anyone.

The news leaves me sort of speechless, because Sony Ericsson hasn’t been doing all that well lately — the company recently closed down four facilities, and laid off 2,000 workers. It also has yet to make a splash in this recent generation of smartphones. Its first Android device, the Xperia X10, won’t be released until later this year.

The hubris displayed by Sony Ericsson’s decision shows that the company would prefer to fail on its own, rather than team up with someone else to succeed. It also reminds me of VentureBeat writer Paul Boutin’s piece on why Nokia has had such a hard time succeeding in America, where excessive corporate pride likely played a role.

Before the iPhone, and before HTC started kicking butt with its smartphone designs, I was always a fan of Sony Ericsson’s phones. Its phones were the height of design for standard cellphones — each one seemingly had a personality of its own. The company also developed a great looking Windows Mobile smartphone, the Xperia X1, but by that point, Windows Mobile was on its way out.

Ericsson could have made a huge impact with Google’s flagship phone. Instead, the company is going to have to fight off the Nexus One, and other high-end Android phones, whenever the Xperia X10 is released. Good luck with that.

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Although final results may differ, Sony Ericsson plans to ship approximately 14 million phones during the first quarter of 2009 with an estimated ASP (average selling price) of EUR 120. Gross margin is expected to decline both year-on-year and sequentially. Net income before taxes is estimated to be a loss in the range of EUR 340 – 390 million, excluding restructuring charges in the range of EUR 10 – 20 million.

Sony Ericsson will announce its first quarter, 2009 financial results at 07.30 UK time/08.30 CET on April 17.