Sony Ericsson has announced an addition to the Walkman phone series by the introduction of the W550. Besides having the ubiquitous Walkman, the phone boasts of a 1.3 megapixel camera as well as complete Internet browsing capability.
The entry-level mobile phone is also equipped with a 4x digital zoom and a 176 x 220 pixel TFT display. The fact that it has also got a preloaded Adobe picture PC software makes it a utility tool, but the focus is mainly on the musical aspect of the phone. Obviously, the phone is targeted at the youth, who have the wherewithal to spend on such a device.
The Disc2Phone PC software makes it easy to load the music onto the 256MB of memory in either MP3 or AAC formats. Around 60 and 120 tracks can be stored in the phone. Sony Ericsson says that the battery is good for listening up to 30 hours of music. If you were to receive a call when engaged in the pursuit of music, the music automatically stops, allowing users to take the call.
Announcing the release of the new phone, Steve Walker, Sony Ericsson’s Head of Product Marketing said, "This new Walkman phone is aimed at fun seekers who enjoy a good party and like to share enjoyable moments with friends. There are so many entertainment features crammed into this small, sleek handset that whether you are alone or with a group of friends, the W550 can satisfy all your entertainment needs. The W550 is an exciting product that combines music, imaging and game playing to offer consumers fun and entertainment wherever they are, while still being a great phone."
In addition to the above-mentioned features, the W550 also has a lot to offer to the gamers. There are pre-installed 3D versions of WormsForts: Under Siege 3D (THQ Wireless), Extreme Air Snowboarding (Digital Chocolate) as well as a multiplayer version of Midway’s Gauntlet (TKO Software). An Access NetFront HTML browser, Bluetooth as well as a USB port complete the impressive picture.
The phone will be available as two variants, the Sony Ericsson W550i Triple Band GPRS 900/1800/1900MHz intended for the European, African, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Hong Kong markets and the Sony Ericsson W550c Triple Band GPRS 900/1800/1900MHz to be marketed exclusively in China. The phone is expected to hit the markets in the fourth quarter of the year.
