Iconic Walkman reigns supreme in music phones

MANILA, Philippines - The Walkman brand significantly altered the music listening landscape when it was introduced 30 years ago. Now, Sony Ericsson marks four years of what has become one of its best-selling product categories, with over 115 million Walkman units sold worldwide.

Through the years, several award-winning models as well as some remarkable product innovations have also emerged from the portfolio. 

“We’re very proud of what Walkman phones have accomplished since they were first launched in 2005. Sony Ericsson has focused on bringing greater hardware functionality and unique applications with every Walkman model we’ve rolled out,” says Sony Ericsson general manager Dennis Manzano.

About 30 handset models have been unveiled since its launch, targeting various market segments and often carrying a revolutionary feature in each one. The Sony Ericsson W800, the first in the line, was touted for being the first mobile phone to combine a truly credible digital music player. 

Most recently, the Sony Ericsson W995 was recognized as the Best Music Phone by the European Imaging and Sound Association for its several multimedia features. 

The W995 is among the Walkman phones offering the Clear Audio experience. This refers to a combined experience of clear stereo, where audio leakage is minimized, and clear bass, which delivers dynamic and distortion-free bass sound. 

Through the years, Walkman phones have also blazed a trail of innovations that have brought mobile music to a whole new level of sophistication. Organizing a playlist, for example, goes a step further on a Walkman phone. The trademarked function SensMe arranges music according to style and tempo, whether slow or upbeat and in between. Users get to listen to music they are precisely in the mood to hear. The function is available in selected Walkman models.

For a unique playback experience, some Walkman handsets carry Shake control. Just press down the phone and flick your wrist to stir up and shuffle the current playlist. Shake control can also be used to adjust volume.

TrackID, a unique music recognition function, is now available in many Walkman and even Cyber-shot handsets. The feature lets users name that tune anytime, anywhere. Record a snippet of the music in question and TrackID responds with the song title, artist and album.

Building on its Sony heritage and affiliation, Walkman phones also stretch mobile music boundaries with cutting-edge accessories like Bluetooth speakers and noise-canceling headsets. Partnerships in gaming, music, movies and speedy Internet connectivity help make mini-entertainment packages out of each mobile phone.

The W995, for example, has Wi-Fi, 3G, AV playback of 30 frames per second, drag-and-drop transfers of songs, photos and videos, and even has enough space for full-length movies.

“Sony Ericsson is fully committed to the Walkman brand. We’re happy to see its evolution beyond the best listening experience to becoming a completely entertaining experience. The portfolio has grown so much that we have Walkman phones suitable for different types of consumers,” says Manzano.

Sony Ericsson is celebrating four years of Walkman with consumer and network operator promos nationwide.