MWC08: Sony Ericsson announces XPERIA X1 Windows Mobile device

Over the past few days as I was preparing for Mobile World Congress 2008, I heard a rumor that was quite exciting and today Microsoft and Sony Ericsson confirmed it when they announced the upcoming Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Windows Mobile device. The XPERIA X1 will be coming in the second half of 2008 and is a slider phone with a 3-inch wide VGA (800x480) display and QWERTY keyboard with a metal shell. Sony Ericsson has long been focused on UIQ mobile devices and it is quite a statement when they decide to partner with Microsoft to bring out a Windows Mobile device.

As you can see in the photo above, the XPERIA X1 has a new Today screen experience with a quick launch panel. It is a Windows Mobile Profesional (touch screen) device and the EXPERIA X1 specs include HSDPA/HSUPA wireless data support, WiFi, Bluetooth, 800x480 resolution display, GPS radio, 3.2 megapixel camera, FM radio and 520 MHz processor. Will we FINALLY see a Windows Mobile device with a camera that can compete with Nokia? Let's hope so as multimedia has not been a strong suit for HTC Windows Mobile devices.

It also looks like we may see this device from AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. since SE mentions supporting the 850/1900 MHz band and 1700-MHz variant only seen by T-Mobile USA. I hope it does come to T-Mobile as a 3G device and if so, I will be one of the first to pick it up for myself.