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View Full Version : Sony Ericsson P800 announced

Andy Sjostrom
03-05-2002, 12:37 PM
<a href="http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/it/story/0,2789,137112,00.html">http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/it/story/0,2789,137112,00.html</a><br /><br />Sony Ericsson met with the press earlier today to show their new creature; the P800. The link takes you to a Swedish newspaper. Thanks to Henrik Elmström for link and translation:<br /><br />"The new P800 will have, amongst other things, a built-in camera. This is the phone that will even the battle with Nokia. The new super-phone was shown today at a press-conference in London. Before the pressconference the secrecy was enormous. "My lips are sealed" said Roger Bolander, the President of SonyEricsson. No wonder. The new P800 have to be success after SonyEricssons earlier problems with the T65. During the pressconference spokepersons for the company proudly presented the P800, a multimedia-phone with a large touchscreen and built-in camera. It will be available on the market during autumn 2002, according to SonyEricsson. During the conference two other phones were shown as well:<br />* Z700 - a game (?) phone with colour screen, and<br />* T68i - a follow-up to T68"<br /><br />(<a href="http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?page=GIS">More info and pictures</a> related to today's Sony Ericsson press conference.)<br /><br />Is this the PDA/phone that will save Ericsson? Apparently Sony has taught Ericsson a hardware design lesson. Question is whether either of the companies can hold a software platform together. Time will tell, but none of them has a swell track record in that respect. I have my doubts, and the Ericsson stock fell after the press conference... According to Sony Ericsson, this is the world's first Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)-phone. Yawn. MMS is really just "SMS on steroids" and still built on top of old, proprietary gateways and protocols.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/p800.jpg" />
Chris Forsberg
03-05-2002, 01:31 PM
Is it just me, or does anyone else want a Smartphone with stylus?

-Chris
Andy Sjostrom
03-05-2002, 01:36 PM
Good point. A touch sensitive screen is... sensitive. A phone with a sensitive screen? I am not sure... It'll be interesting to see one live.
isrjt
03-05-2002, 01:46 PM
I think it would be great to have, but I still want the UI experience to be 1 handed. That way the option is always there, but never absolute...
PlanetPDA.de
03-05-2002, 02:21 PM
More infos can be found on infoSync site:

[...]runs the latest version of Symbian OS, v7.0, capable of running applications built with both C++ and Java, P800 has a 208 x 320 pixel touch-screen, integrated browser, which supports HTML, xHTML, i-Mode and WAP formats[...]

Very nice one, I think my T68 would'nt become very old :wink:


http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1543

-ttyl
PJE
03-05-2002, 02:46 PM
Hi,

This is more like it...

Likes:
* Nice Size
* Nice Screen
* Good OS with nice PIM etc (if based on old Psion apps...)
* Bluetooth
* Scroll wheel on for one handed control

Dislikes:
* Number pad on flap seems an afterthought - would it mark screen over time?.
* Camera seems a little excessive.

As regards software - my old Psion3a did everything I needed with the built in software without needing me to spend $$ on other packages.

When is it going to be available in the USA!!!

My 2c
Tari Akpodiete
03-05-2002, 03:44 PM
yeah, but it is a bit ugly, don't you think?
werty
03-05-2002, 04:10 PM
No SD/MMC slot. :(
mememe
03-05-2002, 04:15 PM
yeah, but it is a bit ugly, don't you think?


:?:

Well... no uglier than some of the pocketpc combo units and it looks as good as the sendo devices. Choice will be good.
isrjt
03-05-2002, 04:26 PM
What's up with the camera... I follow this site pretty closely and never do I see people saying that we are really missing a built in camera. Where is the demand, or am I missing the point. Is there a large demand for phones with cameras? I'll trade size and battery life anytime, or give me an MP3 player and some memory
Jason Dunn
03-05-2002, 04:28 PM
What's up with the camera... I follow this site pretty closely and never do I see people saying that we are really missing a built in camera. Where is the demand, or am I missing the point. Is there a large demand for phones with cameras? I'll trade size and battery life anytime, or give me an MP3 player and some memory


What the cell providers want is for people to start using video in calls to drive up bandwidth so they can make more money... :-)
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 05:23 PM
* Z700 - a game (?) phone with colour screen, and
* T68i - a follow-up to T68"



Z700 has JAVA and memory stick (such SD but only for sony products). T62u for USA market also has JAVA. Aha, P800 also has JAVA. Didn't I say it?

And yes, lack of memory card in P800 is a veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy big mistake.
jpaq
03-05-2002, 05:46 PM
Sony utilizing Symbian instead of the Palm OS.
Hmmmmm.

But I thought that Sony was dedicated to Palm. Heck, there were rumors of them buying Palm.

:?:

Just an interesting aside.
jpaq
03-05-2002, 05:50 PM
By the way, looking left to right, the first picture shows no flip number pad but pictures 2 and 3 do.

What's up wit dat?

Who are these people?
-Seinfeld
entropy1980
03-05-2002, 05:52 PM
* Z700 - a game (?) phone with colour screen, and
* T68i - a follow-up to T68"



Z700 has JAVA and memory stick (such SD but only for sony products). T62u for USA market also has JAVA. Aha, P800 also has JAVA. Didn't I say it?

And yes, lack of memory card in P800 is a veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy big mistake.

oh no here we go again on another Java rant..... if Java is really so huge I think I will start Javathoughts.com and then go there and rant about Pocket PC! :D
PJE
03-05-2002, 06:00 PM
yeah, but it is a bit ugly, don't you think?


Yes...

...but once it's in a nice Vaga case... :D

My 2c
Ivan
03-05-2002, 06:06 PM
By the way, looking left to right, the first picture shows no flip number pad but pictures 2 and 3 do.

What's up wit dat?



The flip pad is detachable. You can see high resolution pictures of it at Infosync.no and the message boards at Infosync provide a link to SonyEricsonn's site where there's an interactive 3D view and demo of the device.
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 06:12 PM
By the way, looking left to right, the first picture shows no flip number pad but pictures 2 and 3 do.

What's up wit dat?


very interesting notice!!! really, the first one has no pad!
there are 2 possibilities:

- these photos are "officially made fakes" - created by software

- sony erricsson will offer 2 models, one with pad and 1 without pad.


anyway: this pad has no good ratings. I have heard from people who used ericsson r380 - the same construction - on example of Treo phone you can see that it is better to have separate keyboard than "rubber on touchscreen" solution...

PS. sorry for Java ranting - I just was so happy. I promise to hold my Java horses. I was observing Ericsson for loooooooong time not telling anything about Java and today big day.

PS 2. so gossips about Ericsson taking Microsoft's Smartphone has appeared to be false after all? or not?
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 06:20 PM
oh no here we go again on aother **** rant.....

please excuse me, again!!! it is like after not eating polish sausages I can eat one then I want to eat a lot...

but, can we come back to subject of this site: is this phone, i.e. p800, proving that SonyEricsson will NOT use for their smartphone neither PalmOS nor MS Smartphone 2002? is it proof enough?
PJE
03-05-2002, 06:21 PM
Just noticed it's triple band GSM, so I could use it in the USA and while abroard on business!

I want one - make mine without the number pad. :D
entropy1980
03-05-2002, 06:39 PM
good point JPZR, looks like the rumors aren't true, however they still might be considering these devices have probably been in devlopment sometime and we still may see an ericsson MS phone, I m actually suprised it wasn't Palm OS based, being that SOny is already a liscencee, which also makes me think there will be no MS device as long as Sony is with Ericcson...
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 06:46 PM
The flip pad is detachable.


:lol: detachable :lol: well, here is the picture:

http://www.wirelesssoftware.info/archives/2002.3.5_184418/p800a.jpg

:lol: detachable :lol:
entropy1980
03-05-2002, 06:50 PM
Interesting I wonder how the size will stack up to say a Nokia 3390? It looks small enough but who knows? Also anyone know included applications...or is it just the Symbian standard fare?
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 06:53 PM
Interesting I wonder how the size will stack up to say a Nokia 3390? It looks small enough but who knows? Also anyone know included applications...or is it just the Symbian standard fare?


No, no, it is DIRECT COMPETITION TO POCKET PC:

P800 is also an organizer, it can handle daily operations such as calendar, e-mail, address book and to-do-lists. All these features can easily be synchronized with the most common office applications on a PC. The P800 enables to take notes and view files such as Powerpoint, Word or Excel.

... not just naked Symbian 7.0.

I think that introduction to the market will be very crucial - if it will delay then Microsoft wins...
entropy1980
03-05-2002, 07:02 PM
so whats the resolution on the screen? Odd that Sony would use Palm as direct competition on one front and Symbian on another why not a unified platform?
JMountford
03-05-2002, 08:13 PM
Is it just me or does this thing's design really resemble LG Infocom's 3000 model?!! I had one for a while the design is nearly identical in look and size, i mean there is the obvious color difference and OS difference, but I am just saying.

Maybe I could cope with Symbian as an OS. Depends on how well it communicates with Windows and MS apps.

Personally I would just rather have a device with native MS support for OS and Apps.

ANd out of curiousiy because I have not had time to look but are there any CDMA phones from Sony Erikson? Cause I am so very peeved by the lack of next generation CDMA handsets.
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 08:47 PM
Odd that Sony would use Palm as direct competition on one front and Symbian on another why not a unified platform?


Sony? No! It is "Sony Ericsson" and before making this joint venture Ericsson had 7% of worldwide share in cell phones but Sony had 1%. So "Sony" as you know it from consumer electronics is not the same Sony as you know it from "Sony Ericsson". Actually it is more Ericsson, than Sony. And Ericsson has huge telco expertise, much bigger than Sony...
JMountford
03-05-2002, 08:55 PM
JPZR's statement is pretty on the mark. On top of that Sony DOES know a thing or two about marketing and design. I am sure they will latch on to what they think is the best way to go to sell the most units. I am sure they are being guided a lot by what Erikson wants, thing is Sony is better at design. I am sure the company evaluated Palm as an OS, but let's face it most people DO NOT want a PDA that doubles as a phone. Most people want a phone with PDA functions. Palm OS does not have that ability right now. And if MS doesn't hurry they will lose before they ever get started.

I will buy whatever phone has the hardware and software support I want first. I don't give a ****e what OS it is running. Heck all I want is a 1XRTT CDMA phone with Bluetooth built in and great syncing software for Outlook 2002 and the ability to act as a modem. These aren't really much to ask when you think about it.
JMountford
03-05-2002, 08:58 PM
To make sure I make myself clear, I don't just want a CDMA handset I want one that works on the SPrint PCS network that meats my requirements.
entropy1980
03-05-2002, 09:08 PM
So Sony doesn't have a say in Sony Ericsson? BS! I just think it's odd that they wouldn't have pushed Palm, believe me I like Symbian better, I guess as Jmountford hinted at Symbian is better as a phone os than a stand alone so it's more suited to this situation....?
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 09:34 PM
To make sure I make myself clear, I don't just want a CDMA handset I want one that works on the SPrint PCS network that meats my requirements.


I don't want to dissapoint you but I am 99% sure that you will not see CDMA version of this phone... you can forget it actually. Some companies think that GSM and W-CDMA is a future and not CDMA and 1x !
st63z
03-05-2002, 10:43 PM
To be fair, I believe there will also be a fair share of CDMA2000 Bluetooth smartphones available in the US -- Qualcomm's very widely used next-gen MSM chipsets will see to that (plus there have already been CMDA commitment announcements from companies like MS, Palm, Intel, TI, Mot, etc -- so there will also be ARM PDA phones). In fact, the CDMA camp is the first combine 2.5G/3G, Bluetooth, gpsOne (hybrid cellular/satellite GPS), etc...

That said, my personal cellular plan is still entrenched in GSM :-)

Anyways, I've been wondering about this rumoured new T68i model! -- can anyone provide more details (in English please)? From what I've read, I'm guessing it's just the T68m with a slightly redesigned body (using more cheaper-feeling plastic than rubber), with the latest updated firmware (supporting MMS), and possibly with more memory? I guess it's good in that Sony Ericsson's probably fixed the existing bugs in the T68m (like slightly weak signal reception, GPRS problems with VoiceStream's network, etc)? AT&T Wireless is supposed to be selling the T68 very soon in their new GSM markets (and VS is rumored to follow in a couple of months?), but I suppose both of them will offer the older T68m?

Would it be worth it to wait and even pay a premium for a new imported T68i even if the T68m is available with a much cheaper subsidized price locally?
SwitchBlade
03-05-2002, 10:45 PM
So Sony doesn't have a say in Sony Ericsson? BS! I just think it's odd that they wouldn't have pushed Palm, believe me I like Symbian better, I guess as Jmountford hinted at Symbian is better as a phone os than a stand alone so it's more suited to this situation....?


TBH Palm at the moment have the worst PDA OS available, even M$' offering is better. Maybe in a year or so when the ex-Be engineers have had a chance to sort them out they will be in a position to try and compete with M$ and Symbian. At the moment I doubt anyone has seriously considered Palm as a viable OS as a smartphone.

SwitchBlade
JohnnyFlash
03-05-2002, 11:00 PM
Would it be worth it to wait and even pay a premium for a new imported T68i even if the T68m is available with a much cheaper subsidized price locally?



Well, main idea behind T68i is: "take T68, add MMS, add possibility to attach still camera to send shots as MMS" and sell it to naive.

I actually advise you not to buy not-smartphone if it does not have Java - it simply is not worth it.

Just look around, and search for phone that has: a. bluetooth, b. gprs, c. mms. d. java. e. gsm band working in your country. f. has color screen.

and if you don't see it right now, wait.

this is not ranting, but informing. sorry in advance!
entropy1980
03-06-2002, 04:20 AM
I will advise to buy only if it doesn't include Java, it can be added on and until there is something I can't get except on Java it's just one more thing I won't use and don't need. Anything written for Java can be written to run on just about any platform so no wories if it is an important app someone will write it, it's a basic principle of economics, if people want something and are willing to pay someone will step up and make money writing it, so no Java- no worries!
lordtech
03-09-2002, 11:53 AM
By the way, looking left to right, the first picture shows no flip number pad but pictures 2 and 3 do.

What's up wit dat?

Who are these people?
-Seinfeld


U can switch between only stylus use or the flip-numpad. The numpad is detachable and the joints are hidden with the panel u see in the picture without numpad.

-Lordtech