Following its solid earnings and its retrieval of the No. 5 handset maker slot, Sony Ericsson released a range of new phones and devices, including a unique toy racecar that mobile-phone users can control through Bluetooth technology.
Sony Ericsson’s range of new announcements spanned the gamut, from two new clamshell-style mobile phones to a new deal with Cartoon Network for wireless content like ring tones and wallpaper. The moves are an effort by the company to continue to improve its financials and stay competitive in the hotly contested mobile-phone market.
Indeed, research firm Gartner Inc. found the mobile-phone market grew for the second consecutive quarter, as worldwide mobile phone sales totaled 114.9 million units in the second quarter of this year, a 12-percent increase compared with the second quarter of last year. Sony Ericsson helped fuel the demand, capturing a 5.5-percent market share on sales of 6.2 million units in the second quarter.
Gartner said the mobile-phone market could continue to grow through the second half of the year-a laudable achievement after two years of de facto market stagnation.
In its announcements today, Sony Ericsson released two new mobile phones, the GSM/GPRS Z600 and the GSM/GPRS Z200. The Z600 features an integrated digital camera and a color screen, as well as both Java and Mophun application platforms. The Z200 features a color screen and 40-tone polyphonic sounds.
In the accessories category, Sony Ericsson released a new Bluetooth handsfree headset, the HBH-200, which features a lightweight form factor with caller ID and handsfree call handling. The company also released its new Gameboard EGB-10, an attachable game controller for its mobile phones. Finally, Sony Ericsson also introduced its new Bluetooth CAR-100 remote-controlled racecar. The matchbox-sized car features two gears and can be navigated from up to 32 feet with a Bluetooth phone’s keypad or joystick.
Finally, Sony Ericsson announced a partnership with Turner Broadcasting to offer wallpapers, games and ring tones based on Cartoon Networks’ characters. Macrospace Ltd. will develop the content for Sony Ericsson phones.
