The M600 available 2Q 2006
SonyEricsson has announced the launch of a phone it hopes will attract users who want a 3G messaging phone, but don’t want a device as large as a PDA or as fully-featured or expensive as a top-end smartphone.
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The M600 is still a pretty powerful phone, being based on the Symbian 9.1 OS and UIQ 3.0 interface, but it has had some of the functionality of a full smartphone stripped out to keep its size and cost down.
SonyEricsson VP of product marketing manager Steve Walker said he thought the combination of a hardware QWERTY screen along with touchsreen interface was a “unique UI”.
“I don’t think you could say there’s any specific product out there that competes with that mix of functionality and form factor,” he said.
The phone is aimed at business users who want something in the dimensions of a phone but still supports push email, and other users who are heavy users of messaging – text, email and IM.
Walker would not give a likely non-subsidised price for the phone, but said it would be in a similar bracket to the K750.
SonyEricsson has also said that they are developing support for a wide range of mobile email clients for the phone.
AlteXia, Ericsson Mobile Office, iAnywhere OneBridge, Intellisync, Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, RIM – BlackBerry Connect, Seven and Visto are all working to certify their applications for the phone’s Symbian 9.1 version, Walker said.
The M600 has 80MB onboard. An additional 64MB Memory Stick Micro (M2), which is a new ultra-small recording media designed for highly compact mobile devices, is provided in the box. The M600 is the first Sony Ericsson product to feature this new memory card.
The M600 is available in Granite Black and Crystal White and starts shipping during Q2 2006.