Everybody is doing business phones recently. Motorola dropped the L2, which in my opinion no “business” person would want. Then again when I think business I think Windows Mobile, I think Blackberry, I think Treo. Just after the Motorola L2 was announced Nokia stormed the press with the Nokia E50 which in comparison was significantly better.

Now we have Sony Ericsson stepping forward with their offering. Which, by the standards set so far, by specs definitely is the best of the bunch. EDGE, 2.0 megapixel camera, memory expandable to 1GB, Bluetooth and PC sync functions for both calendar and contacts.

Aside from Sony Ericsson saying the phone is for business I can’t really say I agree or say what I can see that definitely sets it apart as a business focused device. The Nokia E50 while it may not have the highest specs, does have Blackberry Connect, the ability to function with Microsoft ActiveSync and the IT deployment features. If you don’t need those features the Sony Ericsson Z710 is the phone for you.

Quick Specs

Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900Mhz)
176 x 220 pixel 262k color TFT display
EDGE/GPRS support
Clam shell design
USB 2.0 support
Bundled 64MB Memory Stick Micro (M2) (Expandable to 1GB)
Bluetooth
2.0 Megapixel camera
FM Radio (with RDS)
Size: 88 x 48 x 24.5mm / 3.4 x 1.9 x 1 inches
Weight: 101grams / 3.6oz

- BigBerries

Remember, I just said Ericsson seems to be the only manufacturer making major strides in entertainment. Well, here the company is doing it again. Ericsson this time signed a managed services agreement with PTC (Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa sp. z o.o). Ericsson has a white label music service which is branded Strefa Muzyki which can and will deliver music from all major record labels and quite a few independants as well.

The over 9 million subscribers to the service will have access to ringtones, real tones, mobile graphics, artist news, music videos and full-length tracks.

From the press release: Klaus Tebbe, Director of Strategy, Marketing and Sales at PTC says: “PTC aims to become a music operator, as music is common and universal to customers. Strefa Muzyki brings us closer to our target by creating unique services on the Polish market: Granie na Czekanie and mp3 Omnix.”

I wonder if many carriers are thinking this way. I mean here we have PTC which controls 35% of the mobile market in their area stating not do thay simply want to expand into offering better access to music to its subscribers but stating they wish to become a music operator. This is a big statement and if other telecommunications providers start aiming this direction it is going to have a significant impact.

Another thing that stood out to me from the press release was this “Ericsson’s personalized music service is live with more mobile operators than any other in the world.”

Strefa Muzyki is available at Era Omnix portal. (Non-English site)

- BigBerries

Sony Ericsson has been quite busy releasing phones recently. It still seems that North America gets the short end of the stick though, but I’ll go into that later. What you want to read about right now is the Sony Ericsson W710.

SE expects to begin shipping the sporty Walkman phone sometime during the 3rd Quarter 2006. Equipped with motion sensors, fitness applications to aid in your quest for physical perfection, 2 Megapixel camera with digital zoom (YES!), FM Tuner (with RDS) and of course the WalkMan media player.

Sony Ericsson spreads the love as the phone comes bundled with a 512MB Memory Stick Micro, the phone itself is capable of handling up to 1GB.

Quick Specs

176 x 220 pixel TFT 262k color display (internal)
EDGE and GPRS (class 10)
Quad-band phone GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)
Bluetooth
2 Megapixel camera
10MB internal memory (External expandable up to 1GB)
WalkMan Media player (MP3, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+)
FM Tuner
Motion Sensor
Fitness Applications
Size: 3.4 x 1.9 x 1 inches
Weight: 3.6oz
Talktime: Up to 10 hours
Stand by time: up to 350 hours

- BigBerries

Ericsson seems to be the one manufacturer making strides with making relationships with content makers, however the lack of major involvement with Sony BME is really intriguing. I know they do have agreements and work together but at times it almost seems as if the companies are just waiting to separate. Sony Ericsson in my humble opinion really has the potential to be a force in the media. Notice I said media not just phones. Maybe because Sony is so all over the place, Sony Ericsson can’t get it together to reach the full potential. Anyway with all that said Ericsson recently signed a deal with Pocket Group (I thought this happened already maybe I’m day-dreaming). Now Ericsson can give providers content from artists like Prodigy, Fat Boy Slim and Basement Jaxx.

Another thing I find interesting is the manufacturers and not the cariers are always the ones making the announcements in regards to reaching agreements with content providers, which totally sucks. To me it seems the carriers shoiuld be securing the content and the manufacturers developing the means to transmit the content in the best way possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime during the next generation of mobile that a manufacturer completely bypasses the existing methods and creates its own carrier as it stands right now, many manufacturers are developing the pipelines, the netwroks and almost all of the technology for some carriers who essentially are just rebranding a particular manufacturers product.

Well along with this ramble the new Ericsson agreement allows operators to provide full-track downloads, ringtones, ringback tones and video tones from artists on the Pock Group roster. Press release in the forums
- BigBerries

Interactive entertainment company Sulake has chosen Ericsson’s Internet Payment eXchange (IPX) content billing and payment solution for its Habbo Hotel virtual meeting place and gaming environment. IPX will be used to support premium SMS and WAP payment services in Scandinavia.

Sulake Corporation specializes in developing, publishing and distributing multi-player online communities and games such as Habbo Hotel.

If you have no idea about Habbo Hotel try to imagine the Sims but with Lego/Kubrick/Playmobile type characters. Ericsson’s IPX platform allows Sulake to commercialize its content, regardless of which mobile provider a customer uses.
- BigBerries

Ericsson has completed the turnkey project of designing and integrating the In-Building Solution (IBS) at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s new international airport. The Ericsson IBS solution enables airport travelers and staff the use of advanced communications technology with seamless and high-quality coverage as well as international roaming services.

According to Ericsson the IBS system incorporates six different technologies, two of which are the popular WCDMA and GSM. The In-Building solution will also serve as the foundation for the airport’s transition to 3G in the future.

- BigBerries

Ericsson and 3 Scandinavia continue to work together as Ericsson has been selected by 3 Scandinavia to provide the Ericsson Mobile Organizer (EMO), Ericsson’s solution for push e-mail.

3 Scandinavia is the first operator in Sweden to introduce Ericsson Mobile Organizer. The service will be hosted by Ericsson under a managed services contract, this will allow 3 Scandinavia to immediately launch the new service.

Ericsson Mobile Organizer enables access to email, contacts and calendar updates that are automatically delivered to the user via the 3G network. E-mail attachments can be downloaded, read and edited.

Shlomo Liran, CEO of 3 Scandinavia, says: “Push e-mail is an important piece in our 3Business offering, which is one of the most competitive and modern business offerings on the Scandinavian market. EMO adds even more flexibility, mobility and control for our business customers.

The use of the Ericsson Mobile Organizer comes as a natural step between the two companies as Ericsson is also providing 3 Scandinavia with HSDPA.

- BigBerries

Sony Ericsson is getting chewed out left and right. It seems no one is buying into the W700i. Trusted Reviews asks the question “what do you get when you spray paint an existing model and half the size of the bundled memory card?”

Comments on almost every tech board, gadget blog, phone website and all points in-between from engadget to the smallest blip in Blogville are loaded with bitter comments about the W700i announcement.

BigBerries also covered the Sony Ericsson W700i, but we’re crazy for phones with cameras boasting more than 1.3 megapixels, so don’t expect any harsh commentary.

I must admit it really was a shock to see the device announced during CTIA. Some are speculating that Sony Ericsson could be sending the message that the US is an after-thought when it comes to providing the latest technologies for phones.

More►

T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson team up to get Robbie Williams to take their side in the “digital revolution”. Robbie Williams is a wildly popular entertainer, who previously has angered a few music executives by being accused of “praising internet piracy” has signed on to promote music and mobility.

The added bonus for the die hard fans is that they can get their clutches on a Sony Ericsson phone loaded with Robbie Williams goodness.

The handset will have Robbie Williams clips pictures, music, wallpapers and special startup and shutdown screens.

The European T-Mobile market is expected to get the handset in June.

- BigBerries

Sony Ericsson gets selected as the company to upgrade 3 Scandinavia’s 3G/WCDMA network with HSDPA.

When the upgrade is complete the 3′ mobile broadband will be capable of speeds up to 3.6 Mbps. Ericsson has already started the process, commercial launch is expected in a few months in selected Swedish and Danish cites.

Shlomo Liran, CEO of 3 Scandinavia, says: “Our customers are driving the evolution of our networks, demanding more advanced services. Choosing Ericsson as supplier lets us be the first in Scandinavia and among the first in the world to launch HSDPA services and offer our customers mobile broadband with unrivalled transfer speeds.”

Johan Wibergh, head of Ericsson Market Unit Nordic and Baltics, says: “3 makes a very strong statement on the Nordic market at a very exciting time in telecommunications history. HSDPA deployments are taking off around the world, and we are extremely pleased to power 3 Scandinavia’s HSDPA network.”

- BigBerries