3GSM blog

Sony Ericsson couldn't very well come to the GSMA World Congress and not give us a couple high-end camera phones. Since we've been fans of the Cyber-shot series ever since the , we were hoping for a couple news models to examine. Fortunately, Sony Ericsson didn't disappoint us. The new C702 and C902 offer snazzy photo features, each in a candy bar design. We're not sure why Sony Ericsson is now designating its Cyber-shot handset model numbers the letter "C" (it makes more sense than "K" when you think about it), but based on what we heard at its GSMA news conference, Sony Ericsson doesn't know either.

Sony Ericsson C902

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

The C902 is the strongest of the pair. Like the new Sony Ericsson G900, it offers a 5-megapixel camera and ups the ante by including a 16x digital zoom, auto-focus, face detection, image stabilizer, flash, red eye reduction, and includes support for Sony Ericsson's PictBridge service. It has an eye-catching red design, and it slides apart in the middle to expose the rear-facing camera lens. Other features include Bluetooth, a media player, and 256MB of internal memory.

Sony Ericsson C702

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

The C702 has a 3.2-megapixel shooter with a 2x zoom, a sliding lens cover, an auto-focus, and a flash. You'll also be able to tag your photos with a location thanks to the C702's integrated Assisted GPS. The C702 also has a media player, Bluetooth, 150MB of internal memory, and it features a cyan blue color scheme. Both phones are quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) but again, they support only European 3G networks. Note to Sony Ericsson from North America: throw us a bone!

The Sony Ericsson G700 displays notes with your own handwriting

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

As the GSMA World Congress begins, Sony Ericsson has proven again that it can surprise us. While we expected that it would spend much of its time in Barcelona concentrating on its strong points, like a new Walkman phone, it instead introduced a completely new cell phone line with its G700 and G900.

Designed as "touch-screen organizers with a broad appeal," the G700 and G900 are Symbian smartphones that are designed a busy, on-the-go audience. The company said it was trying to snag a new segment of customers with the two handsets, and from I can tell, it looks like they have a good chance of doing so.

The G700 is particularly interesting. Though its simple candy bar design (available in silk bronze) may not look very exciting, there's actually a lot of power under the hood. Beyond standard offerings, such as a 3.2-megapixel camera, e-mail and messaging, Bluetooth, music player, and personal organizer applications, the G700 offers something truly different. Using the touch screen and the stylus, you can scribble "notes" to yourself which can be posted directly on the screen. The result is sort of like a sticky note. The screen actually shows your handwriting, rather then converting your input into text. You can even draw maps, or pictures, and send them to friends. However, it is unclear whether your friends also need a G700 to receive them. I have to admit, it looks pretty nifty. You can bet that I'll be going to Sony Ericsson's booth tomorrow to try it for myself.

The Sony Ericsson G900 comes in two colors

(Credit: Sony Ericsson)

The G900 is a another candy bar handset. It comes in dark red or dark brown colors. Its feature set is more geared toward photography. It has a 5-megapixel camera with a raft of photography features, including an auto-focus, a 3x zoom, red eye reduction, and a flash. Like its sibling, it also has a touch screen, but it uses in a different way. By tapping the display in camera mode, you can choose a focal point for the image, and then zoom in. Sony Ericsson did a short demo and it looked promising. Other features include messaging and e-mail, a speakerphone, an FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, and personal organizer applications.

Availability for both the G700 and G900 is set for the middle of this year. Both are triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) with support for the European 3G band, so availability in North America will be limited.

Sony Ericsson W980

(Credit: Sony Ericsson)

Sony Ericsson kicked off the GSMA World Congress by sneaking in a press conference the day before the show actually began. Held at a cramped but painfully hip studio far off the Barcelona tourist trail, the event included an solidly international audience and some of the most interesting appetizers I've ever seen (squid Catalan style anyone?).

But I digress, because I'm sure you just care about the phones. Sony Ericsson's announcements solidly illustrate its GSMA themes of music, imaging, and the Web. First to hit the stage was the Sony Ericsson W980. As a Walkman phone, it offers all the usual music goodies that you'd expect. Besides the music player, you'll also find an FM radio, a music ID application, an FM transmitter, support for Sony Ericsson's PlayNow music download service, and the company's signature "shake control" that allows you to change tracks by shaking the phone back and forth (see our for a full report on that feature).

Inside the W980

(Credit: Kent German/CNET Networks)

Outside of the Walkman player, the W980 also has a 3.2-megapixel camera, a speakerphone, a Web browser, personal organizer applications, Bluetooth, USB support, text and multimedia messaging, a Web browser, and an impressive 8MB of internal memory. The flip phone design has a rather unique look; though the black color is unassuming, I was glad to see the dedicated music controls on the front face. What's more, Sony Ericsson promises that the large external display will show the full music player menu (called "Walkman on top"), which would eliminate the need to open the phone when listening to your tunes.

The W980 is quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) but it supports only the European 3G band, which is going to be a running theme at GSMA. So while it may arrive on North American shores (the company promised it would have a "global release"), it will be available only as an unlocked handset at least for the time being. But that doesn't stop me from thinking it looks promising.