Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications launched a half-dozen new handsets and a slew of accessories in Berlin yesterday, with one handset-a candybar Cybershot, model K850-destined for the United States in the fourth quarter. No pricing or carrier deal was announced, but the banding indicates it could land at AT&T Mobility or SEMC’s alternative channels.
“Well done, Sony Ericsson,” Ovum analyst Martin Garner said in a report on the launch. “Motorola, take note.”
The K850 provides a 5-megapixel camera, which ties Nokia Corp.’s N95 device as the highest-resolution cameraphone in the United States, according to Avi Greengart, analyst with Current Analysis.
The K850 is slimmer and smaller than its predecessor models K800 and K810, Garner said, with a larger screen. The device, with an overhauled user interface, is aimed at replacing mid-range digital cameras. The K850 offers expandable memory with a microSD card-an SEMC first, according to Garner-as well as SEMC’s proprietary Memory Stick.
Garner said that SEMC is on the march with handset releases, having issued four new models a month ago. The models announced yesterday generally refreshed and expanded its portfolio, the analyst said. Of the models for global markets announced yesterday, two are entry-tier (Z320, Z250), one is a mid-tier enterprise phone with SEMC’s first foray into GPS (K530), one is a mid-tier slider devoted to entertainment (W910) and one is a new flagship Walkman music device (W960) with 8 gigabytes of onboard memory, a large touchscreen display and keypad.
The analyst also called attention to numerous applications launched on the phones, most involving multimedia management and the user interface.
“This is not just about rounding out the portfolio, there are some very interesting moves here,” Garner said.
High-end in the USA: Sony Ericsson’s HSDPA-capable, 5-megapixel K850
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