LONDON-A Sony Ericsson spokeswoman said the company has not delayed shipments of its high-end P800 device a second time, contrary to some media reports, explaining that the device will be available in European and Asian countries in the fourth quarter as previously promised.
Sony Ericsson in September said it would delay shipments of its P800 mobile phone/personal digital assistant until the fourth quarter for Europe and Asia and early next year for the United States. The device was originally scheduled to ship in the third quarter. At the time, Sony Ericsson declined to give a reason for the delay. However, company spokeswoman Merran Wrigley now said the company decided to delay shipments so it could add a memory stick slot, streaming video support and other technology enhancements to the device.
“Since then (September) there has been no delay,” Wrigley said.
The P800 is now available in the Nordic Region and several other European countries, and will soon show up in several Asian countries. However, Wrigley said the device will not be widely available in every country, and that specific sales decisions are up to wireless carriers.
Many in the industry have expressed concern over the joint handset venture between Sony and Ericsson, pointing to the company’s relatively slim product portfolio and market share. But Ericsson officials continue to voice support for the venture, and Wrigley promised that the company would introduce a range of additional products next year.
