The Xperia S is the first of Sony’s smartphones since it bought Ericsson outright, ending the 10 year partnership. Three Network has already announced that it will be carrying the Xperia S on its 3G network here, as have O2 via Twitter.
The Xperia S has an impressive spec sheet, and Sony has spared no expense to get the company back in the smartphone race, now dominated by South Korean rival Samsung. Sony accounts for just 1.9% of the market currently, and would like to get back to the glory days where Sony-Ericsson devices were respected for their power under the hood.
The Xperia S has this in spades – Sony is boasting a dual-core 1.5Ghz ARM processor, 32GB storage, a 4.3-inch 720P HD screen (1280×720) running Sony’s Mobile Bravia graphics system, and a main 12 megapixel camera with a 1.3mp front facing camera – the front camera can record in full 1080P HD.
Sony has put a 1750 mAh battery in the device that it says will get 8 hours 30 minutes of talk time on 3G, and 450 hours on standby.
It will also be an NFC compatible device, which means it can be used as a payment device and for other future applications. The phone will also link to Sony Bravia TVs to share HD content and can be used as a remote. Sony has also announced a range of phone add-ons called ‘Smart extras’. Smart Wireless Headset Pro is a Bluetooth pair of headphones with a display screen that will notify of text messages, phone calls, calendar notifications and will play radio.
The Smartwatch operates as a watch, while using Bluetooth to connect to your phone to provide the same functionality as the above.
The new XPeria series has also ditched Sony-Ericsson’s old operating systems company also ditched its own proprietary operating system, and has joined the Google Android team. The device currently runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but will be upgradeable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This also means it has access to all the Android App store’s offerings.
Sony has also said the phone will be able to access the Sony Entertainment Network, including its Music and Video Unlimited content stores. It will also be positioned as a minor gaming phone, with access to the Playstation Store, and presumably connectivity options with the Playstation 3 and the newly released Playstation Vita handheld console.
This kind of cross platform integration has been a key part of CEO Howard Stringer’s work to reduce Sony’s crippling internal silo-ing and restore the electronics giant to supremacy.
"The Sony Xperia S brings the best HD technology straight into the palm of your hand. Plus, with an impressive 12 megapixel camera, it’s perfect for fast-fingered photographers who want to upload images straight onto Facebook making the most of Three’s fast 3G network," said Sylvia Chind, head of handsets at Three.
While Three has confirmed it is carrying the device, it hasn’t released any pricing or release info other than it will be released first quarter 2012.
O2 has kept similarly coy, stating that it will ‘be available later in the year.’
Phones4U has also announced that it will be exclusively be selling the white version from March.
Sony also announced 3 other phones as part of its new Xperia NXT line, the Xperia ion – which will be an 4G (LTE) AT&T US exclusive device, and the Xperia NX and Xperia acro HD for the Japanese market.
"With the buyout still pending regulatory approval, this was a bold move by Sony but one Ovum believes the company needed to make. The launch of the own-branded smartphones marks the start of a new era for Sony, as it positions itself to battle with other multiscreen players in the increasingly competitive and interlinked consumer electronics markets. As we enter 2012, Ovum believes that it will become increasingly important for top-tier consumer electronics vendors to offer a complete portfolio, not only of devices, but also the services which run on them. Despite having many of these components in place, Sony now faces the challenge of knitting them together to create a compelling integrated offering – an area in which it has yet to excel," Nick Dillon analyst at Ovum said.
