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Sony Ericsson Xperia X10: just where is it?

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Posted 16th March 2010 at 9:41am by Joe Minihane

XPERIA X10

Sony Ericsson spent almost the entire second half of 2009 teasing gadget fanatics with its Rachael UI, the custom skin which would sit atop Google Android on its phones. Using Timescape and Mediascape functions, its aim was to make a mockery of MotoBLUR and harangue HTC Sense into submission.

Fast forward to March 2010, and the first phone to feature the Rachael UI (now called UX) the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, is still languishing on the mobile makers shelves having been unveiled in December last year.

sony ericsson x10 large

This follows a slew of cells unveiled at Mobile World Congress, the X10 Mini among them, which also feature UX. So what’s with the wait? And is it indicative of how Sony Ericsson has lost the plot in the past year?

At the time of writing, Sony Ericsson had not responded to our requests for comment, but Chris Hazelton, Research Director for Mobile and Wireless at The 451 Group says the X10 debacle points to a wider malaise within the manufacturer.

“This is the second Xperia device to be delayed, which means that when the device does reach the market, like the Xperia X1, its sales will suffer as it will miss some of the market interest it received when it was first announced.”

Hazelton is referring to the much-hyped X1 Windows Mobile phone, which failed to set the world alight back in 2008. He also thinks that Sony Ericsson’s failure to give itself completely to Android and develop phones at the cutting edge of Google’s tech will cost it dear.

“Sony Ericsson has been put in a difficult spot in terms of OS, it lost its primary smartphone OS, UIQ, when Nokia acquired the rest of Symbian in mid 2008. At that point it should have committed to another smartphone OS. Instead it focused on feature phones as the smartphone market exploded,” he says.

“Sony Ericsson once made some of the best smartphones, particularly its P series or Powerhouse smartphones. It has lost its way as it now lacks focus using Symbian S60 devices, Windows Mobile 6.5, and now Android 1.6. It is leveraging multiple OSs to cater to different geographic regions, but instead it should focus on one platform and offer the best unrestricted user experience.”

To put this in context, Windows Mobile 6.5 is on its way out as Windows Phone 7 Series takes a bow and phones such as the HTC Legend, HTC Desire and Google Nexus One already utilise Android 2.1.

“If [the X10] came out in late 2009 it would have been one of a few Android devices, but with the multiple Android announcements at Mobile World Congress in February 2010, Android has gone from unique selling point to almost a “me to” OS,” says Hazelton. “Launching with 1.6 is a mistake, even though Sony Ericsson will offer an upgrade to 2.1 down the road, the lack of clarity here only adds to the problem.”

In order to survive at the smartphone top table, Sony Ericsson needs to kick the X10 out of the door immediately. In the six months since it formal announcement, it’s gone from must-have mobile to a byword for the company’s procrastination. There’s no denying it’s a great slab of cellular joy. But that won’t be enough to save it as Apple limbers up for the release of iPhone 4.0 and Android reaches even greater heights.

More news on: Upcoming mobile phones, Sony Ericsson, Touchscreen phones, Small mobile phones, Smart mobile phones

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9 Comments

  • Q-Bert, 16th March 2010.

    Sony Ericsson has been off its game for a long time now. The only thing that would rescue its fortunes is if it finally make good on that rumoured PSP phone. And make a good job of it...

    That said, I guess it's better that they delay the X10 rather than bring it to market ridden with glitches. Another Aino or Satio-style disaster and they're in in danger of becoming the Toyota of the phone world.

    Reply

  • RitchieD, 16th March 2010.

    I have been waiting for the X10 (via Rogers, Canada), but not sure if I can wait any longer. I've started to look at other Andorid based smartphones.

    Reply

  • Panyah, 16th March 2010.

    I mus agree that Sony-Ericsson has missed the boat. They leaked enough about the phone to get attention, then... late again with a downlevel system, no JAVA, and OPERA unsupported. If they are selling a phone for use on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc., then just say so.
    Those of us who use a phone for more than that need support for other browsers.

    If the rumours about price are correct, they can kiss sales goodbye. The competition has similar phones for far less outlay which are available now. I have the X1 and that has so many glitches, it is a joke.

    The boat has left the dock!

    Reply

  • Justin, 17th March 2010.

    I can't believe SE's conduct with this phone. All smugness at announcement with claims and promises made, at the time some SE watchers claimed "vapourware" and it's almost as if SE have done their best to prove the skeptics right.

    Their obstinate refusal to listen to their potential customers with regards to their choice of 1.6 over the updated Android releases. Insisting that their UI would provide an experience that 2.1 or 2.2 wouldn't or couldn't, ignoring the obvious point that the updates to Android provide functionality that 1.6 didn't and that aps designed for 2.1 wouldn't work on a 1.6 phone. That's just arrogance mixed with stupidity.

    There seems to have been absolutely zero commentary from SE on the predicted and proven-correct delays. Their only official response to the outcry from the phone-buying public demanding to know where their promised phone was, when it was coming out and at how much was to release an unboxing video. Be still my beating heart.

    I think it's almost about time to kill off SE, which is a shame as I generally like their thinking with their phones, but it seems that they just can't produce the hardware that their designers/dreamers come up with. If the media, both mainstream, internet and blogs made a collective decision to just ignore this phone, its derivatives and all subsequent announcements from SE then it would serve to hasten the journey to obscurity and irrelevance that SE seem intent on completing.

    Not only do they focus on too many OSs at SE, they also focus on too many phones. They seem to try to be all things to everyone, the result an incredibly fractured approach to the market. Go to their web site and the number of phones they're peddling, and one assumes supporting, is ludicrous. They should retreat, refocus and come back, as you say. with a dedication to one OS, and a clarity on what they're trying to do and for whom.

    It's a shame because when announced in November the X10 blew everyone, including me away. But since then SE have done zilch to get this into consumers' hands or to assure us that it actually will make it into our hands before it's rendered obsolete and redundant.

    Something is seriously amiss inside SE.

    Reply

  • Dan, 17th March 2010.

    Frankly, I love it that there's still competition in the cell phone marketplace. I hope we continue to have it for a long time - it'd be best for all of us in the long term if we do.

    My main concern is that Rachael problems will be misperceived as Android problems.

    Reply

  • Lionel Ronaldo Gerrard, 17th March 2010.

    This phone is going to be grand, folks. Stop grousing and wait until you finally get to touch it...it's a masterpiece. I had the chance to hold one for a couple of mins and i was totally amazed by it.

    This article is so full of rubbish. The first few beta models were full of glitches,.but the recent ones work perfectly. I dunno when this phone will be out, but I can tell you guys that it is going to be the iphone killer.

    Reply

  • Marco, 18th March 2010.

    The phone will be here by the end of the month. Also it is better then any phone on the market at this moment.

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  • Nelson, 19th March 2010.

    I read on one blog that the delay comes from the fact that Sony Ericsson decided to update to Android 2.1 before launching. This was supposedly said by an O2 employee.

    And I'm with Marco - the specs will still probably be the best on the market by the time it does launch.

    Reply

  • Pedro, 27th March 2010.

    OK, enough is enough. I for one can't wait for this phone to come out. I have ordered a sim free one already and should get it in the next few days. 1.6? Well, I have just sold my Google Nexus One operating 2.1 as I hated it. I prefered my old Acer Liquid with 1.6 any day.

    I feel the Google Nexus One was far too sensitive and far too laggy for my liking. Perhaps Sony Ericsson have delayed the release of the phone to tie in with a release of 2.0 or higher upgrade at the same time? Yes I know I am probably dreaming, but give Sony Ericsson a break. I would buy a Sony Ericsson phone any day.

    Reply

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