06 October 2008

Bringing their partnership a step further at the Paris Motor Show, Sony Ericsson and Saab have developed a future looking connectivity application for the Xperia™ X1, putting the world premiere 9-X Air concept car at the fingertips of the mobile user.

Paris, October 2, 2008 – Sony Ericsson and Saab join forces to bring in-car user experience a step further. Combining the best of two worlds – mobile telecommunications and automotive industry – the two innovative companies work hand in hand to provide smart solutions and forward thinking technology to convenient in-car communications and responsible driving.

Using mobiles while driving must both follow the local legislation and offer a convenient way to stay in touch while on the move. By working openly with General Motors and particularly Saab, and providing a complete portfolio of car accessories, Sony Ericsson puts consumers in the driving seat and optimizes the in-car user experience - www.sonyericsson.com/car

During the Paris Motor Show, people will be able to enjoying the progressive Scandinavian design both through the advanced Saab car model lines and with the latest announced Sony Ericsson phone models and accessories.

Several Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-X models featured with either Sony Ericsson car accessories (including the recently announced Bluetooth™ Car Speakerphone HCB-108) or fully integrated onboard systems will provide visitors with a premium in-car user experience for Bluetooth handsfree telephony. With a superior audio quality, those complementary solutions offer people to stay in touch with friends, colleagues and family while on the move. Drivers can browse through their phonebook, answer or make calls while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

Making the most of the Bluetooth technology, Sony Ericsson and Saab also work on future development for advanced communications between mobile phones and cars. For its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show, the Saab 9-X Air will be showcased with highly developed connectivity. Some of the car features will be remotely controlled by the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X1, providing a premium mobile user experience through its unique customisable touchscreen panels:

• Control ambient lightning
• Control front and rear seat settings
• Lock the car
• Open the rear compartment
• Switch on and off the lights (blinkers, main lights…)

Demonstrations will be available upon request during the Press days.

About Sony Ericsson: Sony Ericsson is a top global industry player with sales of over 100 million phones in 2007. Diversity is one of the core strengths of the company, with operations in over 80 countries including manufacturing in China and R&D sites in China, Europe, India, Japan and North America. Sony Ericsson was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London.

FOR MEDIA INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sony Ericsson Global Communications & PR
Mattias Holm: +44 208 762 6065
General Press: +44 208 762 5858

Sony Ericsson Automotive World
Agnes Derderian : +46 70 617 7224 or agnes.derderian@sonyericsson.com

E-mail: press.global@SonyEricsson.com
Product images: www.sonyericsson.com/press

Saab Automobile AB
Gunilla Gustavs : +46 703 80 27 27 or gunilla.gustavs@se.saab.com

Sony Ericsson XperiaTM X1 – At A Glance

Camera

• Auto focus
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Photo light
• Video recording

Music

• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
• Media player
• Music tones
• Windows Media Player™ Mobile
• 3D games
• FM radio
• Java
• Video streaming
• Video viewing

Internet

• Internet Explorer Mobile
• Opera 9.5 browser
• RSS feeds

Communication and Messaging

• Polyphonic ringtones
• Speakerphone
• Vibrating alert
• Video calling
• Email
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)

Design

• Xperia™ panels
• Optical Joystick navigation
• Navigation key
• Picture wallpaper
• Touch navigation

Organiser

• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document editors
• Document readers
• Flight mode
• Handwriting recognition
• Notes
• Phone book
• Tasks
• Touchscreen

Connectivity

• aGPS
• Bluetooth™ technology
• Modem
• Synchronisation
• USB support
• WLAN

Windows® Mobile® Operating System 6.1

• Microsoft® Outlook Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks
• Microsoft® Office Mobile: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Internet Explorer® Mobile
• Windows Media Player™ Mobile
• Windows Live™
• Exchange ActiveSync®
• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes

Facts and Figures

• Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm
• Weight: 158 grams

• Available colours: Solid Black and Steel Silver

• Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
• Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
• Size: 3 inches

• Memory
• Phone memory: up to 400 MB
• microSD™ memory card support

Availability and Versions
Networks

• UMTS 900/1900/2100
• UMTS 850/1900/2100
• EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
• HSUPA/HSDPA

Legal Information

The other piece of information was the pricing. According to the salesperson, the phone would cost somewhere between $300 and $400 with 2 year contract and contract free it is somewhere around $750. If this is accurate, I have only one thing to say to both RIM and Verizon Wireless: What are you thinking?

With iPhone starting at $199 with contract and the HTC Dream G1 slated to cost between $150 and $250, why would anyone shell out $300 or more for the Blackberry Storm, especially when its features are on par with some of these phone and way below the phones like the Nokia N96 or Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 which fall in the $700+ price range. It is even more insane when Vodafone, Verizon Wireless' parent is giving it away for free with 18 month contract.

Given this economy, pricing it high is a sure recipe for lower sales. No wonder than that Microsoft is lurking and playing a waiting game.  Lets hope some saner minds prevail and the pricing is more competitive!

Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm smartphone will hit the market in the U.S. and Europe next month with exclusive rights belonging to Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, respectively, RIM is expected to announce today. The Storm, which signals RIM's intent to crash the consumer market, features: a 3.25-inch screen, which is slightly smaller than the iPhone's; the BlackBerry's first touch-screen interface; and 3G network support -- but it lacks Wi-Fi access and weighs 16% more than the iPhone. The Wall Street Journal (10/8) , Financial Times (10/8)

Sprint Nextel's Boost Mobile has rolled out a GPS-enabled Motorola flip phone that is compatible with its walkie-talkie service. The i776 comes with a range of multimedia features and is Boost's smallest flip phone to date that is equipped with a camera. TMCnet.com (10/7)

Sony Ericsson's new partnership with Saab will give users of the new Xperia X1 smartphone remote control inside the Saab 9-X Air that will allow them to make hands-free calls, lock the doors, work the lights, adjust the seats and open the rear compartment from the handset. Observers say Sony Ericsson hopes that by displaying the X1's versatility in the Saab arrangement, developers will be encouraged to make applications for its new flagship device. InformationWeek (10/7)

News Corp. will pay VeriSign $200 million for its share of Jamba, which provides ringtones and games for mobile phones. Variety reports that VeriSign wants to focus on its core business of Internet infrastructure. Reuters (10/7) , Variety (10/7)

The highly-anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 smartphone has been approved by the FCC and helpfully posted on their website so I can spend my Saturday mornings combing through confusingly bureaucratic PDF files looking for announcements like this. The specific model vetted by the fatcats in Washington probably isn’t the one we’ll be seeing here in North America: it’s referred to as the X1i, which in Sony terms means Europe, and it’s not yet equipped with 3G. Still, this is a good indication that we will be getting the X1 before 2009, though it’ll still be after those shifty Europeans.

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK.....

It's not a very good time for Apple just now.

First of all, the music industry are currently trying to set new royalty rates for digital music in the US - and there is a chance that the iTunes store may not survive in the States. Which surely must be their biggest market.

And then Nokia unleash their new music phone that allows users to download as much music as they want for a whole year - and then keep all the tracks without DRM jiggery-pokery.

And then there's all the iPhone plagiarists edging in as well - the Google G1, the Sony Ericsson X1, the Samsung Omnia and the just-announced Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

Will brand loyalty see Apple through? Even I'm interested in looking at the other options - and I'm well known for being a Mac fanboy. Hmmmmm. What do you think?

Με μια ματιά, τα χαρακτηριστικά του νέου Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 είναι τα εξής:

Camera

• Auto focus
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Photo light
• Video recording

Mουσική

• Bluetooth stereo (A2DP)
• Media player
• Music tones
• Windows Media Player^TM Mobile
• 3D games
• FM radio
• Java
• Video streaming
• Video viewing

Internet

• Internet Explorer Mobile
• Opera 9.5 browser
• RSS feeds

Επικοινωνία/Μυνήματα

• Polyphonic ringtones
• Speakerphone
• Vibrating alert
• Video calling
• Email
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)

Σχεδιασμός

• Xperia panels
• Optical Joystick navigation
• Navigation key
• Picture wallpaper
• Touch navigation

Organiser

• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document editors
• Document readers
• Flight mode
• Handwriting recognition
• Notes
• Phone book
• Tasks
• Touchscreen

Συνδεσιμότητα

• aGPS
• Bluetooth technology
• Modem
• Synchronisation
• USB support
• WLAN

Λειτουργικό σύστημα Windows Mobile 6.1

• Microsoft Outlook Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks
• Microsoft Office Mobile: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Internet Explorer Mobile
• Windows Media Player^TM Mobile
• Windows Live
• Exchange ActiveSync
• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes

Χαρακτηριστικά

• Size: 110 x 53 x 16,7 mm
• Weight: 158 grams

• Available colours: Solid Black and Steel Silver

• Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
• Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
• Size: 3 inches

• Memory
• Phone memory: up to 400 MB
• microSD^TM memory card support

Υποστηριζόμενα δίκτυα

• UMTS 900/1900/2100
• UMTS 850/1900/2100
• EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
• HSUPA/HSDPA

Michael, assisted by a Mustang GT500KR embodied Kitt, rolls into action with a battalion of dudes & dudettes in bunkers (including Billy from BSG) and a gazillion gadgets.  Leaving aside Kitt's transformations into various forms, including the new Ford F150 twin cab, SonyEricsson's forthcoming Xperia X1 makes a brief appearance.  No panels this time, just the biggest font SMS ever.  I'm pretty sure I also spotted Gateway's One on someone's desk sitting unbranded in it's sleek and shiny black glory; I haven't seen one of those anywhere since CES in January.

The pilot earlier this year hinted that Kitt would be able to transform into different shapes, growing a rear spoiler at the end of that airing.  This week's season premiere goes a bit further and there will probably be some mixed opinions; we're in way out fantasy land with this series.  Works for me...although jumping into the back of an F150 and ending up in the front seat of a Mustang is a big ask for any audience.

You can make up your mind on September 24th or grab it quick at NBC or Hulu.

Neil Berman

www.theonbutton.com

Kaynak: Xperia X1

So main features I can't let go of any are:

1. Finger-friendly touch screen technology

2. Excellent Internet browsing ability.

3. Productivity software (Word, Spreadsheets, Calendar, Tasks, pdf...etc) with the ability to synchronize with Outlook both ways.

4. Over 3 MP Camera with flash, that shoots pictures and video

5. Media Player (Video and Music)

6. Copy and paste (yes you need it when you want to copy someones number and send it to someone else via SMS)

7. Ability to install more applications.

8. Physical keyboard.

9. Built-in G-sensor

My wishlist was:

1. Lighter weight than my current HUGE i-mate K-JAM

2. Over 2.8-inch screen size.

3. 3G

So, I first wanted of course to buy an iPhone, well aside from its excllent software user interface it failed items 3, 4, 6 and 8. Too much to accept just to get a great user interface.

Next, I checked HTC, and fell in love with HTC Touch Pro it matched my 9 items plus one on my wish list, brilliant design, great TouchFlo 3D interface built on top of Windows Mobole 6.1 (ok they try to imitate Apple, but who isn't?) yet from reviews its G-Sensor doesn't work on all interfaces in the phone. Weird!

But then the heavy weight kicked in, do I want another huge mobile phone?? So I checked HTC Touch Diamond, it had the 8 items on must-have list plus 3G and lighter weight on the wish list (No flash light with the camera), yet it had some not-so-good reviews especially for a bugy and slow TouchFlo 3D interface that HTC managed to tweak with the Touch Pro.

Next I decided to check other touch phones out there, and Samsung OMNIA and Sony Ericsson XPERIA came up:

The OMNIA, has a 5 MP camera with flash, lighter weight, a 3.2-inch screen but with no physical keyboard. I think it competes very well with the HTC Diamond, yet HTC's proprietary touch interface TocuhFlow 3D is much neater.

The XPERIA on the other hand, was a bit less heavy than the Touch Pro (145 g instead of 165 g), has a nice sleek arc slider design for the physical keyboard, with a 3-inch screen. I just didn't like its exterior design, those x's everywhere.

My search then was concluded, didn't check anybody else but Nokia, who depressingly  don't have a touch phone to-date!

I think I am going to go with HTC, I love the brand and I like their design, they still have a way to go to mach the iPhone interface (physical and touch technology) but I believe they are on the right track, especially that Google's open source operating system Android is going be first implemented on an HTC Dream with T-Mobile in the US.

Notes:

1. Nokia, where the hell is your touch phone??? its 2008! and I've been using touch technology for the past 3 years!!!

2. All mobile makers everywhere, people who are looking for business productivity like nice design too, like to take good quality pictures and video too.

3. This comparison didn't include price.

Future Sony Ericsson phones launched under its new Xperia brand may not be based on Microsoft Windows, the handset maker said at the launch of its digital marketing campaign for the Xperia X1.

The X1, which will be the premium phone in Sony Ericsson's portfolio when it starts shipping later this month, is Sony Ericsson's first smartphone powered by Windows Mobile and was seen as boosting Microsoft's presence in the smartphone market.

But the loss-making joint venture of Japan's Sony and Sweden's Ericsson was reluctant to reveal any details of future models that may be launched under the Xperia brand, of which the X1 is the first.

"The brand is not tied into any specific technical platform," said Magnus Andersson, product manager for the X1.

Asked how much pressure Xperia was under, given Sony Ericsson's shrinking range of must-have products, Andersson said: "I think there is a lot of hope riding on everything Sony Ericsson does."

Geek experts commenting on the model and it's future in the U.S. market - not likely to debut before November - felt that AT&T's networks best-suited the X1. Uh, OK.

Dalam postingan sebelumnya disebutkan bahwa menurut Sony Ericsson Press Release XPERIA X1 akan dilepas ke pasaran pada tanggal 30 September 2008 mendatang. Sebelum itu, tepatnya pada tanggal 15 September 2008, Sony Ericsson akan merilis presentasi dan demonstrasi lebih lengkap tentang XPERIA X1 dalam bentuk sebuah Webcast. Dan, menjelang peluncuran webcast tersebut, Sony Ericsson telah lebih dulu mempersembahkan sebuah trailer film yang berjudul Who Is Johnny X? di mana sang pemeran utama - Johnny X - penderita amnesia, menggunakan XPERIA X1 dalam menjalankan misinya untuk mengungkap jati dirinya yang sebenarnya. Trailer ini merupakan trailer bersambung di mana kita bisa mendaftarkan alamat email kita untuk memperoleh informasi kapan trailer selanjutnya akan dirilis. Belum diketahui secara pasti apakah trailer tersebut akan merupakan sebuah film bioskop ataukah hanya merupakan sebuah film khusus yang dibuat oleh Sony Ericsson untuk mempromosikan XPERIA X1.

Berikut adalah trailer pertama dari Who Is Johnny X? tersebut.

]]> http://gedzeti.wordpress.com/?p=1333 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:12:50 +0000 gedzeti http://gedzeti.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-stize-krajem-meseca/

Oni koji žive u Nemačkoj, Švedskoj i Velikoj Britaniji od kraja ovog meseca moći će da kupe Sony Ericssonov najjači mobilni telefon - Xperiu X1 (o kojoj smo već pisali).

Radi se o telefonu sa ekranom osetljivim na dodir dijagonale 3 inča i rezolucije čak 800 x 480 tačaka. Mobilni ima i ugrađenu kameru od 3,2 megapiksela, podršku za WiFi i HSDPA veze te GPS. Xperia X1 ima do 400 MB svoje memorije koja se, naravno, može proširiti preko MicroSD kartica.

Za sada cena nije objavljena, ali se zna se da će u zadnjem kvartalu ove godine krenuti distribucija i u ostatak Evrope, te obe Amerike i Aziju.

Akhirnya... setelah beredar banyak kabar yang simpang siur tentang kapan Xperia™ X1 akan dirilis, akhirnya pihak Sony Ericsson mengeluarkan pernyataan secara resmi bahwa jadwal rilis Xperia™ X1 adalah tanggal 30 September 2008, secara global.

Berikut petikan beritanya dari Sony Ericsson Press Release :

Sony Ericsson announces launch dates for Xperia™ X1

10 September 2008

London, UK – 10 September 2008 – Sony Ericsson today announces 30 September 2008 as the official launch date for the highly anticipated Xperia™ X1 – initially available to consumers in the UK, Germany and Sweden. The handset will be available in other markets across Europe, Asia and Latin America throughout Q4 2008.

APAC

• Indonesia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

Western Europe

• Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal

Central Europe

• Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic

Middle East

• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait

Africa

• South Africa

Latin America

• Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia

Availability dates for North America, China, Australia and Russia along with other countries not mentioned above will be announced by local markets in the coming months.

Webcast
To start the countdown to the launch of Xperia™ X1, Sony Ericsson will host a live global webcast on September 15 at 13:00 GMT + 1, offering viewers the first in-depth demonstration of the handset. The web cast will also premiere the first episode of an alternative reality thriller Johnny X. To register to view the web cast and Q&A session with Xperia™ X1 Senior Product Manager Magnus J Andersson, please visit: www.sonyericsson.com/premiere.

“We are extremely pleased with the innovation and new user experience we have created for consumers on the Xperia™ X1,” said Rikko Sakaguchi CVP and Head of Creation and Development at Sony Ericsson. “The in-depth demonstration on the web cast will showcase how this handset is truly unique. The nine panel eco system puts the user in total control of the primary experiences available on the phone and allows consumers to personalise the panel interface to suit their needs and lifestyle. The Xperia™ X1 has the highest quality screen on the market, four-way navigation keys and optical joy stick to give a stressless browsing experience and, with its super fast processor and network speed the Xperia™ X1 really bridges the gap between personal, entertainment and work mobile needs.”

Johnny X Alternative Reality Thriller
Johnny X is about a young man with amnesia desperately piecing together his identity. The webisodic thriller comprises of nine episodes, created to demonstrate the rich, immersive and experiential elements of the Xperia™ X1.

The storyline follows Johnny X on his mission to rediscover his identity. As he finds out more about his lost life in a race against time, he updates his Xperia™ X1 with new content to piece together his personality and identity, reflecting how the phone can be personalized to suit users’ individual lifestyle and needs. Will Johnny X find out who he really is before it’s too late?

“Producing the Johnny X thriller has given us an engaging platform to demonstrate all the capabilities and features a user can experience with the Xperia™ X1 phone,” said Lennard Hoornik, Head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson. “The panel interface is a perfect way to reflect your personality and can be tailored and changed to suit your exact needs at any given time. No two Xperia™ X1 will ever have the same combination of panels on the phone; we are all individuals and deserve to have a phone that reflects that. ”

Over a three week period, one new episode of Johnny X will be posted online at www.sonyericsson.com/Johnnyx every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting on Monday, September 22. Check out the trailer for the series at www.whoisjohnny-x.com

Global Launch
The official global launch of the Xperia™ X1 will take place at Tent London as part of London Design Week between September 18 – 21st. Journalists are invited to attend the official Tent London opening party on Friday evening 19 September 2008 to see the Xperia™ X1 and meet with Sony Ericsson spokespeople. To register, please email: sonyericsson@bm.com

Tent London is one of the most comprehensive and diverse design events of the year. It is a multi-disciplinary event in an exciting location that will appeal equally to designers, media and consumers - embracing art to architecture, vintage to contemporary and raw talent to established trend-setters.

Open to general public from 18-21st September, from 10am, with admission prices starting at:

• Public & Students £7.50 in advance £10.00 on the door
• Child (under 16) £5.00
• Child (under 5) FREE

For advance ticket purchases, visit: www.tentlondon.co.uk
Address: Circa at Tent London, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1

Xperia™
The Xperia™ X1 is the first product under Sony Ericsson’s new premium sub-brand Xperia™. Designed to meet consumers’ needs for a converged entertainment and mobile web communication experience, the Xperia™ X1 is an extremely stylish handset encased in a real stainless steel body, with a striking arc-slider design, supported by a powerful multimedia ecosystem.

Consumers can access a world of experiences by tapping on one of the unique customisable panels on the three-inch high resolution touch-widescreen. Windows Mobile® lets you choose from a dynamic range of activities anytime and anywhere; from enjoying your music, watching a video, checking email, shopping online or working with Windows Mobile Office on-the-move. The full QWERTY keyboard and quality metal casing completes this premium handset. For more information please visit: www.sonyericsson.com/x1

]]> http://passionemobile.wordpress.com/?p=13061 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:17:07 +0000 MobileMan http://passionemobile.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/sony-ericsson-xperia-x1-demo/

Fonte: justamp

Fonte:Techmeme, Engadget

In ultimul timp, Apple e atacata din toata partile. Si razboiul nu e deloc departe, deoarece dupa Samsung si LG, alti doi concurenti isi vor lansa dusmanii iPhone-ului. Este vorba de Sony Ericsson si Nokia care isi trimit pe campul de lupta noile Xperia X1 si 5800 Tube.

Chiar daca modelul de telefon nu este chiar unul care si-l poate permite oricine, fiecare firma care se respecta trebuie sa lanseze cate un terminal in fiecare gen de telefon. Asa ca, dupa ce de cateva zile, Nokia N96 e disponibil la un pret exorbitant de peste 2000 RON,  iata ca vine pe piata si un telefon mai scump. Este vorba despre Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, care va fi prezent in magazine de la sfarsitul lui septembrie. Fanii Nokia vor trebui sa astepte ceva mai mult pana la lansarea primului Nokia cu touchscreen. Este vorba despre Nokia 5800 Tube, care va fi prezentat in octombrie, si pus in vanzare in decembrie.

Ramane sa vedem, asadar, cine va castiga lupta, Nokia si Apple pornind bineinteles cu un avantaj.

There are two versions of Windows Mobile right now - Standard and Pro which are also known as the Touchscreen and non-Touchscreen versions.  This Tilt has WinMoPro 6 on it - I haven't upgraded it to 6.1 because it isn't mine, I need to return it.  It belongs to the AT&T rep who calls on my employer.  I had asked her if it was ok if I updated it to 6.1 and yesterday she sent me an e-mail telling me to go ahead so I will probably do that later today.

The Touchscreen version is much different than the non-Touchscreen version and I don't think it is better.  Years ago I had an iPAQ and the Tilt feels much more like an PDA first, phone second where as devices running the non-Touchscreen version feel like phones first, PDAs second.  While it is much easier to work with the calendar and contacts, it is much harder to use as a phone.  In fact, it is clunky.  It would be nice to try the TouchFlo interface HTC is known for but it isn't included on the AT&T version of the phone so no luck there.

I have actually sent my Pantech Duo in for repair after using this phone - the Pantech Duo runs WinMoStd (non-Touchscreen) and it just much easier to use.  AT&T's WindowsMobile roadmap doesn't seem to have much on it although a guy at the local store told me they were getting a new HTC device in November.

I could get an iPhone through work but after playing with a co-workers, I am not sold on it.  The iPhone has the same issue I have with the Tilt - I don't like using the touchscreen.  On an I phone I probably hit the delete key once for every two letters I type.  If an iPhone had a slide out keyboard like the Tilt has, I'd be all over that.

I am taking the Tilt to Europe with me next week - using it for a few days while traveling will be a real test.  After that it goes back to our AT&T rep and hopefully my Pantech Duo will be back by then.  I am kicking myself for not sending it in earlier.  Not sure why it didn't occur to me to look into a repair.  I was hoping new phones, in particular the Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1, would be out by now but there isn't anything, at least from AT&T, on the near horizon I am excited about.

The latest scoop, according to reports says that Sony Ericsson’s elusive handset, the Xperia X1, as now been further delayed. This is getting rather annoying as the handset just doesn’t seem to be making any headway. This looks like it is some sort of gimmick the company has cooked up to flash the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional handset at as many events as possible without making a proper statement as to when it will officially launch. It was showcased at SE's booth at this year's IFA as well.

The last news we heard was that the handset was due to be out a while back. Nothing happened of course, and it was delayed till the latter half of the year. October was the speculation. Now it seems that has been further delayed to the end of the year. December or maybe even January of 2009. All I have to say is, if the company is taking so much time to make sure the handset is properly prepped and glitch-free for a launch, this had better be one heck of a mobile phone. iPhone 3G and N96, look out!