There’s a lot resting on the success of Sony Ericsson’s Android-powered XPERIA X10, the company’s first entry into the Android smartphone world – and it’s most important mobile launch in years.
The struggling mobile firm announced an additional 600 lay-offs last week, on top of the 2,500 employees it’s already axed to save costs. Total sales at Sony Ericsson plummeted by a staggering 40% during 2009, as customers embraced touchscreen smartphones at lightning pace – an area Sony Ericsson has, up to now, neglected. Apart from the Windows Mobile-powered Xperia X2, which… sunk.
It’s all on your shoulders now, sonny…
The X10 needs to be a perfect launch for Sony – on schedule, backed by the networks and their money, with a clear Android update path to keep geekier consumers happy. Anything less and Sony Ericsson may as well go back to releasing low-spec candybars in “emerging markets”.
Basically, if the X10 is anything other than a storming success, 2010 will be another disastrous year for Sony Ericsson. The X10 is still down for a February 19 release contract-free at Play – hopefully some of the major networks will soon announce they’re carrying SE’s Android messiah.
But will it work? Vodafone is seemingly in love with its new iPhone to the detriment of everything else on its network at the moment, O2 is similarly Apple-d up, and would an exclusive on Orange, 3 or T-Mobile make much of a dent in today’s HTC-dominated Android world?
We’re glad we’re sitting here with a cup of tea, not in the board room of Sony Ericsson right now, put it that way. D-Day for SE is nigh, and the young and inexperienced X10 is leading the charge.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
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