2 new Walkman phones unveiled

Sony Ericsson recently revealed the two latest additions to its Walkman phone portfolio — the W890i and W380i, which are both stylish new offerings packed with features sure to set music lovers’ pulses racing.

With its super slim, stylish design, massive 2GB music storage capacity, and 3.2-megapixel camera, the W890i Walkman phone promises to hit the right notes with sophisticated music lovers and design connoisseurs alike.

For the music fan on the move, the W380i Walkman phone combines a unique clamshell design with all the music cred users expect from Sony Ericsson’s Walkman phones.

The phone packs in never-seen before features, including Gesture control, which allows users to mute calls with a wave of their hands.

There is also an external display that comes to life only when you need it — to show the name of a music track or to let you know who is calling.

“With these latest phones, we address the needs of young, fashion-conscious music lovers with the W380i, as well as music connoisseurs who demand the latest Walkman features and fast downloads offered by the W890i,” says Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson general manager.

“These Walkman phones combine Sony Ericsson’s undeniable expertise in mobile communications and mobile music to stunning effect,” he adds.

Whether you’re on your own or with friends, the W890i’s color-matched stereo headset and in-built stereo speakers deliver a high-quality listening experience.

The phone incorporates the Walkman Player 3.0, the latest in Walkman technology, which offers one-click access to the player and simple, intuitive navigation around your music.

Not only can you organize your tracks by artist, album, or visually using Album Art (the album’s front cover artwork) — with the W890i, you can even select your music to match your mood.

The SensMe music experience automatically plots your music by tempo and mood, letting you create a playlist that matches how you feel.

The W890i Walkman phone offers the benefit of an expandable memory, which can be upgraded as your music collection grows.

A 2GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) is provided in-box, allowing the storage of up to 1,800 songs. If you tire of these, tune in to your favorite station using the W890i’s FM Radio.

The W890i’s HSDPA capabilities allow you to download music at speeds up to four times faster than with regular 3G devices. Plus, it makes viewing pages on the Internet quicker and easier, too.

The phone is fully compatible with Sony Ericsson’s PlayNow mobile entertainment experience. This provides users with instant access to the latest content — whether full-length music tracks, the hottest mobile games, ringtones or wallpapers — downloadable either direct to the phone or via the PC.

Need to provide the music for a party on the spur of the moment? No problem. As well as its own internal stereo speakers, the W890i is fully compatible with a range of the latest Sony Ericsson music accessories, including the portable Bluetooth speaker MBS-100 and the stereo Bluetooth headset HBH-DS220.

With understated elegance, smooth curves and a choice of three stylish colors (Espresso Black, Mocha Brown and Sparking Silver), the W890i Walkman phone truly complements one’s personal style.

The W890i’s 3.2-megapixel camera allows you to record the moment for posterity. One-press access to the camera means you need never miss a shot. Plus, instantly upload your photos to your personal online gallery, or blogsite, to let your friends know what you’re up to.

The W890i Walkman phone is a HSDPA/UMTS 2100 and GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 phone and will be available in selected markets from the first quarter of 2008.

Meanwhile, the W380i Walkman phone comes complete with the Media Manager PC software that lets you easily transfer your music, photos and videos between your computer and phone. Simply point, click and drag your music files from your computer to your phone; the software automatically converts your music to the right format.

Store hours of your favorite music (up to 271 songs) on the W380i’s 512 MB Memory Stick Micro or tune in to your favorite FM radio station.

Hear a song on the radio you don’t recognize but really like? Use the W380i’s TrackID feature to tag a clip from the phone’s radio (or any external source) and find out instantly who sings it, what it’s called and which album it’s from.

The TrackID functionality, available on the W380i, W890i and a host of other Walkman phones, is one of the phones’ most popular features. Latest figures show that every second, someone, somewhere, is using TrackID to identify a song he or she loves.

Once you have identified the song, get it onto your phone in just a few clicks via PlayNow. Or browse through the latest full-length music tracks, mobile games, MP3 ringtones and wallpapers — all available from PlayNow straight to your W380i Walkman phone or via your PC.

The W380i Walkman phone brings your music to the surface of the phone, allowing you to control what you’re listening to without needing to open the phone. Skip forward or backwards between tracks or pause the music effortlessly.

One-touch buttons on the top of the phone light up when the Walkman player is switched on and a hidden display comes to life, providing track information at a glance.

When not in use, the W380i Walkman phone looks discreet and laid-back from the outside. But as soon as you receive a call or play music, it comes alive. Choose different light effects for different callers, and see your music “dance” when the phone’s lights match the beat of your favorite song.

Mute your phone with a wave of your hand. Or snooze the alarm if you’re lying in bed. The W380i’s Gesture Control feature allows true “hands-free” handling of your calls for the first time.

To enjoy your music discreetly when you’re in public, choose a great headset to go with it. Pick from the portable stereo headset HPM-83 or the stereo Bluetooth headset HBH-DS200 if you want to stream music wirelessly from your phone.

The W380i is a GSM/EDGE/GPRS 900/1800/1900 clamshell phone and will be available in selected markets from the first quarter of 2008.