Sony Ericsson unveils its 1st i-mode phone

Those looking to upgrade or enter the world of 3G with a slim, elegant handset, will love the K610im. 

It is Sony Ericsson’s first GSM/UMTS phone to offer full support for i-mode, the operator service that delivers a richer experience for handling "i-mail," browsing the Internet and viewing content.

Wrapped in desirable carbon black casing, this elegantly designed phone is all about quality, from the feel of the keypad to the sharp, crisp image display. 

K610im is a modern classic true to its Sony Ericsson heritage – a highly desirable 3G handset that is accessible to a wide audience.

"We are extremely pleased that a leading brand vendor such as Sony Ericsson is to offer market leading handsets with full support for i-mode services. Sony Ericsson has achieved an excellent integration of the i-mode service portfolio and the result is a compelling consumer offering," said Takeshi Natsuno, senior vice president and managing director for multimedia services of NTT DoCoMo Inc.

The innovative i-mode service delivers a whole new experience in connected mobile applications such as "i-mail," Web browsing and "iMMS." 

Viewing multimedia is better, faster and easier, thanks to Web pages and content specially formulated for i-mode. Lighter pages give faster download speeds and users are given access to a host of i-mode sites and content. 

i-mode also helps the user get even more from K610im’s impressive functionality. Shoot great pictures with the phone’s two-megapixel camera and send them in high quality as e-mail as well as iMMS messages.

The supplied 64MB Memory Stick (M2) will store up to 175 photos, and can be expanded to 1GB.

K610im appeals to the design-conscious who want a 3G phone that is as compact and lightweight as a fashionable 2G handset. 

Sony Ericsson has gained a reputation for delivering 3G phones that closely match the size and weight of its 2G predecessors and K610im takes this a step further, delivering full 3G functionality, a highly specified camera and intuitive music player, all in a phone that weighs just 89 grams.

One of Sony Ericsson’s most versatile 3G handsets yet, K610im’s highly specified music player is equipped for over-the-air downloads. Store up to 60 tracks in the new eAAC+ format with the Memory Stick (M2), and a USB cable and music software are also included for transferring tracks to and from the PC.

The K610im is a dual-mode UMTS (2100MHz)-GPRS 900/1800/1900 handset for i-mode markets in Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and Middle East. It will ship in the third quarter.