Sony Ericsson announces new Xperia X8, does not commit to the Android version it will run
Though Sony Ericsson does not have a presence in the United States market for Android smartphones, the company's contributions so far have been very impressive in the global market.
Today, Sony Ericsson announced that it is expanding its line of Android-powered Xperia smartphones with the new Xperia X8, which falls in between the X10 and the X10 mini in size and functionality. The X10 Mini and Mini Pro have 2.5" screens, and the X8's is an even 3" in size.
So it's still very small when compared to the current trend of smart- and superphones which are rapidly nearing the 5" screen size, but it uses Sony Ericsson's "four corners" interface to simplify interaction. On the tiny X10 Mini line, this interface works brilliantly.
X8 Highlights
- Processor: 600MHz
- Networks: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual- and tri-band UMTS/HSPA (depending upon region of release)
- 3.2 Megapixel camera
- 2GB microSD included, support for up to 16GB
- A-GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Android Version: TO BE DETERMINED
- Release Date: TO BE DETERMINED
In Sony Ericsson's Blog today, there is an explanation why the X8 does not have its version of Android set in stone.
"As the improved timing for Android 2.1 availability now coincides with the launch window for Xperia X8, we are currently discussing with our customers the most appropriate way to bring the product to market for each operator in each country. As customer testing has already started in a number of markets it is important that we preserve the robustness of the launch whilst ensuring a compelling user experience. Xperia X8 will either launch on Android 1.6 with a subsequent upgrade to Android 2.1 a few weeks later or will launch on Android 2.1. The final decision will be taken on a market-by-market basis."