SlashGear Japan
After P800, P900, P910 and P990, where do you go? Well, if you’re Sony Ericsson’s naming team you say “sodcakes to it” and aim for number one; or, in this case, P1. The latest in SE’s established touchscreen smartphone range, the P1 is notable not least for doing away with the design ethos that had evolved from the pastel-pretty original through to the slitty-keyed also-ran blessed with WiFi and Symbian’s UIQ OS.
Instead the P1 takes a leaf out of the M600’s design portfolio, sporting the same rocker-style QWERTY keys and a generally more streamlined chassis. Inside, the biggest disappointment is the lack of US-band HSDPA – if you’re in the ‘States you’re stuck with tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz) and WiFi in just b flavour, although happily the European 2100MHz 3G band is supported - and while the 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and macro mode specially designed to ’scan’ in business cards and import them directly into the contacts directory is good, it doesn’t make up for the missed US mobile broadband opportunity.
Especially since I’m sure the rest of the P1 will be just great for browsing. The much-loved Opera 8 browser is there, as is a preloaded RSS reader and downloadable photo blogging app. Portable entertainment is catered for too, with an FM tuner (with, surprisingly, RDS), DAP capable of playing most major formats, and even streaming TV functionality, though I doubt you’d be doing much of it over GPRS.
A VoIP client is there, though I’m sure over-anxious carriers will soon have that removed, and it’s push email compatible. Internal memory adds up to 160MB, but SE bundle a 512MB Memory Stick Micro to remind you that they’re still flogging that wretched flash format.
The P1 should hit stores in what they’re calling “selected markets” in third-quarter this year.
Thanks to pb for their help clearing up the US/Euro band confusion.
Sony Ericsson P1 [MobileBurn]
7 Responses to “Sony Ericsson P1 smartphone flawed by US 3G omission”
pb May 8, 2007
“you’re stuck with tri-band GSM”
No Chris, you’re not. It has 3G.
NeutralChris Davies May 8, 2007
Ah, thanks for pointing that out, pb! What I should’ve made clear (and hopefully have now) is that it’s the US that will miss out on 3G. European countries that use the 2100MHz band for for 3G will be catered for.
[quote comment="21769"]
No Chris, you’re not. It has 3G.[/quote]
NeutralRocketCat* May 8, 2007
“Inside, the biggest disappointment is the lack of US-band HSDPA”
Uh, one correction:
HSDPA, is NOT US Only, ‘3′ has already launched HSDPA networks in Europe, and TDC, will soon join in Denmark.
-1Chris Davies May 9, 2007
Sorry, perhaps I wasn’t clear enough – what I was saying (or trying to!) was that the P1 lacks the 850/1900MHz HSDPA bands used in the US by Cingular, whereas it does support HSDPA in Europe where the 2100MHz band is used.
[quote comment="21775"]“Inside, the biggest disappointment is the lack of US-band HSDPA”
Uh, one correction:
HSDPA, is NOT US Only, ‘3′ has already launched HSDPA networks in Europe, and TDC, will soon join in Denmark.[/quote]
NeutralAditya Kuber May 9, 2007
Well, why bother with another P-series phone six months after the P990? Why not let the P990 reach a higher level of penetration? Maybe this is a sign that the P990 didn’t do as well as expected by SE. It was priced rather steeply in India… But I like the look of this. Like the M600i meets the P990i and takes the best of both!
NeutralChris Davies May 9, 2007
I think the P990 had been overtaken by rivals from HTC. I’m looking forward to trying the P1, though; I far prefer the looks of it to anything from HTC’s range, and HSDPA is great!
[quote comment="21793"]Well, why bother with another P-series phone six months after the P990? Why not let the P990 reach a higher level of penetration? Maybe this is a sign that the P990 didn’t do as well as expected by SE. It was priced rather steeply in India… But I like the look of this. Like the M600i meets the P990i and takes the best of both![/quote]
NeutralEhsan May 9, 2007
WoW thats pretty neat i currently own W950i but i think i will sell my w950i and buy P1i as soon as it comes out
Neutral