Smartphone maker Sony Ericsson this morning posted a pre-tax loss of 247 million euros ($318 million) in the fourth quarter of 2011, after reporting a profit of 31 million euros in Q3 2011. The company, a 50:50 joint-venture between Sony and Ericsson, blames “intense competition”, “price erosion” and effects from the flooding in Thailand as some of the main drivers for the drop.

Sales for the quarter were approximately 1.3 billion euros, down 16 percent year-on-year.

The fourth quarter of last year ended in a net loss of 207 million euros ($266.5 million), compared to a net income of 8 million euros ($10.3 million) in the same quarter of the previous year.

Analysts were actually expecting a modest profit from the company, so this is quite a shock.

Sony will soon acquire Ericsson’s 50 percent share of Sony Ericsson in a deal valued at 1.05 billion euros – the transaction is expected to take place “late January to February 2012″.

Sony Ericsson’s huge loss in Q4 2011 will impact Ericsson’s operating income with SEK -1.1 b. (125 million euros) in the quarter, the latter company said this morning.

Update with more information from Sony Ericsson’s earnings report:

Its gross margin for the quarter was 24 percent, a decrease of 6 points year-on-year and 3 percentage points from the previous quarter.

The company shipped 9 million units during Q4 2011, a 20 percent decrease year-on-year and a 5 percent decrease compared to Q3. Sony Ericsson has shipped 28 million Xperia (Android) smartphones to date.

Even though Sony Ericsson intends to go all-smartphone during 2012, feature phones still make up some 20 percent of its sales volumes.

Also read:

Sony Ericsson To Rebrand In 2012, Aims For Top Of The Android Pack

Sony Ericsson CEO: We Should Have Taken The iPhone More Seriously

Ericsson, which provides technology and services to telecom operators around the globe, is forecasting a tenfold increase in mobile data traffic over the next five years, mainly driven by video.

By 2016, Ericsson also predicts mobile broadband subscriptions to exceed 5 billion in its latest Traffic and Market Data report (PDF). The company earlier predicted that number to surpass 1 billion in 2011, but now forecasts 900 million subscribers by year’s end.

According to the report, mobile data traffic will double this year, mainly due to surging sales of smartphones, tablets and other devices. Total smartphone traffic is expected to triple during 2011. Users living on less than 1 percent of the earth’s land area are expected to generate around 60 percent of mobile traffic by 2016, the company says.

The report is based on measurements of mobile voice and data volumes, recorded by Ericsson in more than 180 countries over several years.

Also see: The Past, Present And Future Of Connectivity: A Must-See Mini Film

Just landed in our inbox: a link to this excellent documentary on connectivity, sponsored by Ericsson and entitled ‘On The Brink’.

Picked up earlier by GigaOm, the 21-minute documentary features folks like David Weinberger, Caterina Fake, Ola Ahlvarsson, SoundCloud co-founder Erik Wahlforss and Wired’s David Rowan, among others.

It’s a great documentary to watch if you have some time to spare today or over the weekend. It’s going to be even more fun re-watching the mini film in about 10 years. Enjoy.

Sony Corp. has just announced that it will pay $1.47 billion (or $1.05 billion Euros) for Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson 50% stake in the joint Sony-Ericsson mobile handset venture. Based in Tokyo and Stockholm respectively, Sony bought out the Swedish company’s ownership of “five essential patent families” in an intellectual property agreement between the two companies.

According to the press release announcing the deal, the acquisition will allow Sony to incorporate its mobile products into its other electronics offering like PCs, TVs and tablets and laptops. The two companies have been working together on the mobile front since 2001.

Said Ericsson President Hans Vestberg in a release,

“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world.”

The buyout had been rumored for about a couple of weeks, as Sony Ericsson continued to lose hold on its cell phone market share. By putting an end to the Sony-Ericsson brand — presently the world’s sixth largest cellphone manufacturer — Sony wanted to “catch up with rivals” according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Whether this bold move will help remains to be seen. The mobile sphere has increasing become a hotly contested battleground, with Google’s acquisition of Motorola emphasizing how important the cell phone space is for the future of electronics devices and Internet access.

Full release, below.

Ericsson: Sony to acquire Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN–(Marketwire – Oct 27, 2011) -

–  Sony Ericsson to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony and integrated into Sony’s broad platform of network-connected consumer electronics products

–  The transaction also provides Sony with a broad IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of five essential patent families

–  Ericsson to receive EUR 1.05 billion cash payment

–  Sony and Ericsson to create wireless connectivity initiative to drive connectivity across multiple platforms

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that Sony will acquire Ericsson’s 50 percent stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”), making the mobile handset business a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony.

The transaction gives Sony an opportunity to rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices – including tablets, televisions and personal computers – for the benefit of consumers and the growth of its business. The transaction also provides Sony with a broad intellectual property (IP) cross-licensing agreement covering all products and services of Sony as well as ownership of five essential patent families relating to wireless handset technology.

As part of the transaction, Ericsson will receive a cash consideration of EUR 1.05 billion.

During the past ten years the mobile market has shifted focus from simple mobile phones to rich smartphones that include access to internet services and content. The transaction is a logical strategic step that takes into account the nature of this evolution and its impact on the marketplace.

This means that the synergies for Ericsson in having both a world leading technology and telecoms services portfolio and a handset operation are decreasing. Today Ericsson’s focus is on the global wireless market as a whole; how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones. Consistent with that mission, by setting up a wireless connectivity initiative, Ericsson and Sony will work to drive and develop the market’s adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms.

“This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want. With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross-license agreement, our four- screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network,” said Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr Stringer also noted that the acquisition will afford Sony operational efficiencies in engineering, network development and marketing, among other areas. “We can help people enjoy all our content – from movies to music and games – through our many devices, in a way no one else can.”

“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world” said Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.

When Sony Ericsson started its operations on October 1, 2001, it combined the unprofitable handset operations from Ericsson and Sony. Following a successful turnaround the company has become a market leader in the development of feature phones by integrating Sony’s strong consumer products knowledge and Ericsson’s telecommunications technology leadership. The Walkman™ phone and Cyber- shot™ phone are well known examples.

With the successful introduction of the P1 in 2007, Sony Ericsson early on established itself in the smartphone segment. More recently, the company has successfully made the transition from feature phones to Android-based Xperia™ smartphones. By the end of the third quarter of 2011, Sony Ericsson held a market share of 11 percent (by value) in the Android phone market, representing 80 percent of the company’s third quarter sales. During its ten years in operation Sony Ericsson has generated approximately EUR 1.5 billion of profit and paid dividends totalling approximately EUR 1.9 billion to its parent companies. Prominent models include “Xperia™ arc” and “Xperia™ mini” which received 2011 EISA Awards, while recent notable additions to the lineup include “Xperia™ PLAY” and “Xperia™ arc S”.

The transaction, which has been approved by appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies, is expected to close in January 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Ericsson has accounted for its 50 percent share in Sony Ericsson according to the equity method. Following completion of the transaction, Ericsson will have no outstanding guarantees relating to Sony Ericsson and will no longer account for Sony Ericsson as an investment on balance sheet. The transaction will result in a positive capital gain for Ericsson which will be defined after closing of the transaction.

SEB Enskilda is acting as Ericsson’s sole financial advisor in the transaction.

Facts about Sony Ericsson

Sales (FY 2010)  EUR 6,294 million

Net income (FY 2010) EUR 90 million

Number of employees 7,500

(December 2010)

Headquarters London

R&D sites Beijing, Lund, Silicon Valley and Tokyo

Market share 11% in Android (FY2011/3Q) 80 % of sales are smartphones (Android)

There’s a couple of reasons why Sony wants the buyout.  One, Sony Ericsson is losing market share for quite sometime now and it will continue to drop as the demands for high-end phones are declining.  The popularity of Experia smartphones remains low.

The direction of both companies seems to be going different paths – Sony is focussing more on the consumer products like tablet, PC, game consoles, TV, cameras and some other businesses while Ericsson on the other hand is more on the telecommunication-network equipment and is more focussed on the business-to-business market.

Notes to editors:

Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company’s portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the “prime driver in an all- communicating world” through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 180 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

As it stands, Sony Ericsson is the 6th largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world, but Sony may be looking into going it alone. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Sony is close to finalizing a buyout of Ericsson’s stake in their joint venture.

According to the usual unnamed sources, current talks are tenuous at best. That doesn’t seem to have dampened Sony CEO Howard Stringer’s mood: he reportedly wants the deal finalized as soon as possible.

Sony’s big issue seems to stem from control, and specifically the lack thereof when it came to Sony Ericsson’s phone lineup. By bringing phone design and production in-house, the Wall Street Journal believes that Sony could leverage their “technology strengths to develop new innovative handsets more quickly.”

I don’t know how much I agree with that sentiment, but I will say this: it’s worth a shot.

It could be that the Sony Ericsson experiment has run its course. Together, the pair managed to snatch up a considerable portion of the market back when it all took to make a popular phone was to jam multimedia functionality into it. Times have changed, to say nothing of people’s expectations, and now Sony Ericsson finds itself as the perennial also-ran of the smartphone industry.

Let me ask an honest question: when was the last time you looked at a Sony Ericsson phone and felt something stir inside you? Your answers will almost certainly vary from mine, but I’d wager it’s been a while. Mine was the original Xperia X1 — a phone that pushed enough of my buttons that I could overlook the fact that it ran Windows Mobile. That phone came out three years ago — none of the people I posed the question to named a phone newer than that.

The joint venture made all kinds of sense back in 2001, and even for some years after that, but these days it seems like Sony Ericsson has become listless. They slowly churn out smartphone after smartphone to an audience that wants them less and less each year.

I’m trying hard not to throw Ericsson under the bus, because they haven’t really done anything wrong. Still, their main business is developing and rolling out telecommunications networks. It’s not that Ericsson is screwing anything up so much as the fact that the two companies may not share the same priorities or vision. Their 2009 agreement to join up with STMicroelectronics doesn’t really help things, as companies like HTC have recently been making use of their products.

In short, Ericsson doesn’t need the mobile phone business as much as Sony does.

Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg seems to get it. In an interview from last week, Nordberg mentioned that the company was closer to Sony than it was to Ericsson. Under his guidance, Sony Ericsson is aiming to be a 100% smartphone-focused company by the middle of next year. If a Sony buyout took place, and Nordberg ran Sony Mobile with the full backing of a parent company that would like to control the consumer electronics market end to end, we could be looking at a brand new beast.

At the simplest level, I think the concept behind the Embedded Mobile House can be seen as an exercise in efficiency and at the grandest, an attempt at elegance. Even if the strange looking monkey toy made by KT seemed a tad excessive, I feel like the self-reporting medical tools and software from Ericsson—which automatically update your medical history in real time—made a lot of sense. The preventative applications of that part alone are timely. I’m sure some of my Pharma friends have already seen this type of thing. In any event, they were the highlight of the house, in my opinion, but I posted a few pics of some of the other gadgets as well.

Oh yeah, what was up with the mounted GPS units along the middle wall? Don’t they belong in The Embedded Car instead of the Embedded House?

Here is the Ericsson demo (sorry for having your face out of frame at the beginning Ivan)

More of the Ericsson Sensors.

Ericsson sensor readings.

Mobile phone controlled RC kid’s toy with seeing-eye camera in front.

iPad outfitted with software to control lighting and other utilities.

Dynamic pill bottle lids that communicate to doctors when opened.

Croissants that embedded themselves in my stomach during the tour.

Ericsson, which provides tech and services to telecom operators around the globe, estimates that the number of mobile broadband subscriptions has grown to a whopping 500 million during the course of 2010, and that this number will double before the end of this year.

Ericsson forecasts that the majority of subscriptions, roughly 400 million in total, is expected to be concentrated in the Asia Pacific region, followed by North America and Western Europe with more than 200 million subscriptions each.

The strong surge in mobile broadband adoption is of course largely a result of the accelerating growth of smartphones, laptops and tablets, and the increasing usage of mobile Internet services and apps. Ericsson says global mobile data traffic continues to grow rapidly – the company announced in August 2010 that it had tripled in just one year.

By 2015, Ericsson believes mobile broadband subscriptions will top 3.8 billion, with 95 percent driven by HSPA, CDMA and LTE networks.

(Photo via Ericsson)

Ericsson, which provides technology and services to telecom operators around the globe, estimates we’ve hit another milestone in the Internet becoming increasingly mobile. The company claims, based on estimates based on industry information, that the 5 billionth mobile subscription was accounted for on Thursday, July 8.

The 5 billion mark was hit largely thanks to a surge in mobile subscriptions in emerging markets like China and India, the company says. In the year 2000, about 720 million people had mobile subscriptions, less than the amount of users China alone has today, still according to Ericsson.

Mobile broadband subscriptions are growing at similar pace and are expected to amount to more than 3.4 billion by 2015 (from 360 million in 2009).

Furthermore, Ericsson estimates, 2 million mobile subscriptions are added on a daily basis, and the number of 3G subscriptions has now exceeded 500 million worldwide. The company also posits we’ll be at no less than 50 billion connected devices by the year 2020.

(Photo via Ericsson)

Are you as excited as I am about LTE and the blazing fast data speeds it promises? Sure you are. And while you’re undoubtedly holding your breath waiting for 4G service and handsets, AT&T is moving forward with field trials after announcing that Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson will be providing its equipment. What’s in store for AT&T in the near future?

One step at a time for AT&T. First, it is going to upgrade to HSPA 7.2Mbps to whet our appetites for LTE. Some time later this year, we can expect field trials of LTE before AT&T starts launching it in commercial markets next year. Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson, who both provide AT&T’s current 3G equipment, will be working with the telco once again for its LTE efforts – the former saying that its current 3G equipment can be upgraded to LTE.

This is great news and all, but I’d like to see AT&T speed up on reinforcing its 3G network where needed, like New York City and San Francisco. With Verizon starting its LTE upgrades this year, it’s the least AT&T can do to make sure its customers stay happy.

[via ZDNet]

ST-Ericsson says it anticipates manufacturers to launch the first commercial products based on its U6715 chip platform in the first half of 2010.

The company claims the platform can support all the essentials of the smartphone experience, including navigation, web browsing, video streaming, email, WiFi, a five megapixel camera, a touch screen and more. A multimedia engine integrated into the hardware architecture of the U6715 frees most of the platform’s microprocessor subsystem to run applications.

At the same time, ST-Ericsson says the U6715 platform allows manufacturers to significantly drive down the cost of device production and thus make highly capable smartphones less of a niche play and more of a mass-market product.

The U6715 platform comes with an HSPA modem capable of delivering downlink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, and the company also boasts about its power efficiency. Equipped with a 1000mA battery, smartphones based on the platform are said to be capable of playing music for up to 40 hours and provide a talk time of up to 7 hours on a 3G network on a single battery charge.

More details are available in this document (PDF).

Here’s an interesting fact, if you really stretch the definition of the word “interesting.” Team CrunchGear often used the Novatel MiFi during CES to bring you all that great content. The concept is simple: it takes a 3G signal and then outputs that signal via Wi-Fi. You then connect to the Wi-Fi network. Instant broadband, cell signal depending, for everyone. The same concept applies to the MBRN3300, a router that’s the product of a Netgear-Ericsson partnership.

The Wi-Fi outputs at 802.11n, probably faster than what your local 3G signal can sustain (I would guess, not knowing a damn thing about where you live). There’s also four hardwire ports, if that’s how you roll.

Now, outside of needing a quick-like Internet connection, where else could something like the MBRN3300 be useful? How about this: maybe you have a terrible Internet connection? My uncle, who lives in the middle of nowhere in upstate New York, has the worst Internet connection in the developed world, provided you consider upstate New York to be part of the developed world. It’s Frontier Cable, and his Internet connection is abysmal. It took a solid 30+ minutes to download and install a PS3 firmware update the other day. It’s just a terrible connection, so bad that iChat’s screen sharing is barely usable. We’re talking delays in the tens of seconds between inputting a command and seeing it execute. Anyhow, assuming he even gets a 3G signal there, I could see a 3G-provided Internet signal being far superior to his Frontier-provided Internet connection.

So if you’re actual Internet connection is hot garbage, this type of thing might be worth investigating.

For all of you waiting for mobile data networks to catch up to broadband speeds on cable and DSL, the first 4G/LTE network has arrived . . . in Sweden (and Norway too). The Scandinavians get everything first when it comes to mobile, except the iPhone. TeliaSonera launched the first two cities of its 4G network, which promises wireless download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (yeah, right) using equipment from Ericsson and Huawei.

So if you live in Oslo or Stockholm, you get to try it out. Everyone else is out of luck. TeliaSonera says it will roll out the 4G service to 25 cities in Sweden and Norway in 2010. But you know how these things go. The full rollout may take longer because they are still trying to follow the instructions on how to put it together. They are pretty sure they are missing some bolts. (We’ve all been there).

For the rest of us, the wait will be even longer. Mobile carriers in the U.S. are struggling under the weight of soaring Web phone data usage. Their 3G networks can hardly keep up (cough, AT&T). Verizon is supposed to launch 4G/LTE service in the U.S. next year, and AT&T won’t offer its version of 4G until 2011.

Until then, I suggest you move to Stockholm.

LG and Intel announced that they are partnering to produce MIDs (mobile internet devices) based on Intel’s Moorestown hardware platform and Moblin OS. LG hopes to release internet devices with low power consumption. They are also tapping Ericsson to provide 3G capabilities for the devices.

For those of you who are unfamiliar to these. Mooreswtown is a SOC (system on a chip) that integrates the Intel Atom processor, graphics, memory controller into one package. Moblin is a Linux-based operating system that Intel developed in-house.

We’ve talked about Moorestown and Moblin before. This MID platform is the logical next step. We’ve also seen other mobile computing platforms but none those caught on. Will this suffer a similar fate? What do you guys think?

Here’s the full release:

LG Electronics, Intel Collaborate on Future Mobile Internet Device

Seoul (Korea Newswire) February 16, 2009 02:08 PM — LG Electronics (LG) and Intel Corporation today announced collaboration around mobile Internet devices (MIDs) based on Intel’s next-generation MID hardware platform, codenamed “Moorestown,” and Linux-based Moblin v2.0 software platform. The LG device is expected to be one of the first Moorestown designs to market.   LG and Intel’s common goal is to unleash rich Internet experiences across a range of mobile devices while delivering the functionality of today’s high-end smartphones. The collaboration on the new design extends a close working relationship the two companies have enjoyed across their respective mobile product lines, which now spans the notebook, netbook and MID categories.  “The MID segment will drive growth at LG Electronics. We chose Intel’s next-generation Moorestown platform and Moblin-based OS to pursue this segment because of the high performance and Internet compatibility this brings to our service provider customers,” said Jung Jun Lee, executive vice president of LG Electronics and head of its Mobile Communications Business Division. “The collaboration with Intel on the MID platform has been valuable and further extends our longstanding relationship. Our efforts are well on track and we look forward to bringing the MID to market.”  LG launched a netbook, based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, in the fourth quarter of 2008, and has been supplying the mobile companion device to carriers and retailers worldwide. LG also continues to ship notebooks based on the Intel® Core™ processor.  MIDs represent an emerging growth category in the industry and are designed to bring a rich, interactive, PC-like Internet experience in pocketable devices. The experience on a MID will help usher in the many new Internet trends performed predominantly on a PC to mobile devices.  “Moorestown” is the codename for Intel’s second-generation MID platform, which consists of a System on Chip (codenamed “Lincroft”) that integrates a 45nm Intel® Atom™ processor core, graphics, video and memory controller. The platform also includes an input/output (I/O) hub, codenamed “Langwell,” that includes a range of I/O blocks and supports wireless solutions.  Intel’s “Moorestown”-based MIDs are expected to reduce idle power consumption by a factor of greater than 10 versus today’s Intel Atom processor-based MIDs. Additionally, the Moorestown platform will be accompanied by a newer Moblin software version, Moblin v2.0, that is based on the Linux operating system. This software is designed specifically to deliver a great PC-like Internet experience while also supporting cell phone voice capabilities. The “Moorestown” platform is expected to come to market by 2010.  “LG Electronics makes some of the most innovative computers and smart phones in the world, and is known to be a leading-edge player in every market segment they serve,” said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel Corporation senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Ultra Mobility Group. “We look forward to providing them some fantastic Intel products that will deliver the best Internet experience while dramatically reducing power –contributing to the development of ultra sleek devices that offer superb battery life.”  In order to offer a variety of network connections and Internet access, LG is also working with Ericsson to bring 3G network capability to its planned MID. This is an extension of the existing collaboration between the companies. LG has been supplying notebooks and netbooks with mobile broadband modules from Ericsson since the third quarter of 2008.  “We are glad that LG Electronics has chosen Ericsson to provide 3G capabilities in its Intel-based MID. We are working with LG and Intel to deliver industry-leading 3G capabilities on the Moorestown MID,” said Mats Norin, vice president and head of Ericsson Mobile Broadband Modules. “Ericsson’s unparalleled relationships with global service providers will be instrumental as we define plans with LG to take this MID to market across multiple geographies around the world.”  # # #  About LG Electronics, Inc.  LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in 114 operations including 82 subsidiaries around the world. With 2008 global sales of USD 44.7 billion, LG is comprised of five business units – Home Entertainment, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning, Business Solutions and Mobile Communications. LG is the world’s leading producer of mobile handsets, flat panel TVs, air conditioners, front-loading washing machines, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.  LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company (LG) is a leading global mobile communication and information company. LG creates handsets that provide an optimized mobile experience to customers around the world with its cutting-edge technology and innovative handset design capabilities. Increasingly, LG is pursuing convergence technology and mobile computing products. LG will continue to take leadership in the mobile communication environment with stylish designs and smart technology.  About Intel  Intel [NASDAQ: INTC], the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

 

News Source: LG Electronics

When it’s closed, it looks like a regular Walkman music player and music controls appear under the display screen. When you slide it open, an alphanumeric keypad is revealed to give you normal cell phone capabilities. There is no information yet on whether the phone will be available in other countries.

Ericsson has big plans for cell phones – big plans. Ultimately by the 2012, the company sees 100+ Mbps connection with 12-20MP cameras as you can see by the chart above. Plus, your lowly phone will be able to record HD video and sport a 1GHz CPU. So in less than four years all this is suppose to happen, Ericsson? M’kay. The megapixal camera is within reason, and even the HD video part doesn’t seem that wacky within four years, but while Euro snobs and Japanese tech geeks might see the fast data speeds, chances are we here in the States will not see those quick speeds before flying cars.

Ericsson has big plans for cell phones – big plans. Ultimately by the 2012, the company sees 100+ Mbps connection with 12-20MP cameras as you can see by the chart above. Plus, your lowly phone will be able to record HD video and sport a 1GHz CPU. So in less than four years all this is suppose to happen, Ericsson? M’kay. The megapixal camera is within reason, and even the HD video part doesn’t seem that wacky within four years, but while Euro snobs and Japanese tech geeks might see the fast data speeds, chances are we here in the States will not see those quick speeds before flying cars.

We kind of knew these two Sony Ericsson products were dropping today, and so, here are the Sony W705 Walkman phone and MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker. The quad-band W705 seems like an upgraded G705 with WiFi, YouTube access, 3.2 MP camera, and a FM radio with TrackID built-in. Plus, it has a large 2.4-inch screen along with an accelerometer for Shake Control. The whole thing is made out of a metal finish that should help this slider stand out.

The MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker system is meant to play nicely with the W705 but it should work with any ‘ol Bluetooth phone. You can control the volume, along with playback selection, from the phone itself and if a call comes in, the speaker will mute. No word on pricing for either units, but they should launch in the first part of ’09 in select markets.

We kind of knew these two Sony Ericsson products were dropping today, and so, here are the Sony W705 Walkman phone and MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker. The quad-band W705 seems like an upgraded G705 with WiFi, YouTube access, 3.2 MP camera, and a FM radio with TrackID built-in. Plus, it has a large 2.4-inch screen along with an accelerometer for Shake Control. The whole thing is made out of a metal finish that should help this slider stand out.

The MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker system is meant to play nicely with the W705 but it should work with any ‘ol Bluetooth phone. You can control the volume, along with playback selection, from the phone itself and if a call comes in, the speaker will mute. No word on pricing for either units, but they should launch in the first part of ’09 in select markets.

Now that the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 has stormed European shores, eager owners are rushing to share the unboxing process with the rest of the world. The best we’ve spotted so far is that of Sweden’s Fosfor magazine – for the most part, the rest of them have been “Here’s the box.. HERE’S THE PHONE!”, skipping the oh-so-crucial step-by-step undressing.

Just a bit of good ol’ fashion gadget porn for your Friday afternoon. After playing with the X1 a few times during its development phase, I remain wary of its UI – that said, I’ve yet to play with a final build, and man, isn’t that some lovely lookin’ hardware?

Check out a few more shots after the jump, or check out Fosfor’s full gallery.