Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY and Xperia Arc coming to Rogers

[howard]

Arc:


Play:


Here's the press release:

Get Your Game On!
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY and Xperia™ arc,
The Ultimate Entertainment Smartphones,
Coming Exclusively to Rogers™, in Canada

• Xperia PLAY combines a PlayStation™-quality gaming experience with the very latest Android™ platform version 2.3 , super fast graphics and dedicated game controls
• Xperia™ arc combines super-slim stunning design with state-of-the-art Sony™ technology on Android™ platform version 2.3
• Rogers™ becomes exclusive Canadian carrier of both Xperia™ PLAY and Xperia™ arc - extending its Android device leadership

Toronto, February 13, 2011 –Is Canada ready to play? Sony Ericsson and Rogers think so.Canadians will be among the first in the world to experience the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY, the world’s first PlayStation Certified smartphone, and the Xperia™ arc smartphone, which will debut in Canada exclusively at Rogers™. The Xperia™ PLAY and Xperia™ arc are expected to be available in Canada in Spring 2011.

"Connecting people to the things they are passionate about is what we do. Whether it's watching the latest episode of your favourite show or beating your gaming high score, we are always looking for game changers that connect our customers to more of the things that matter to them, when they want, wherever they are," says Raj Doshi, Vice President, Mobile Product Management, Rogers Communications Inc. "Together with Sony Ericsson, and backed by the amazing power of Android, we believe the Xperia PLAY and Xperia arc are going to revolutionize mobile gaming and entertainment experiences for Canadians and we're excited our customers will have exclusive access to them."

“We’re showing that we’ve got game by introducing our most exciting Xperia™ products yet and Canadians have a lot to look forward to this year with two of the hottest Android™ smartphones,” said Peter Farmer, Head of Marketing – North America, Sony Ericsson. “Both the Xperia™ PLAY and Xperia™ arc combine best in class multimedia Sony™ technology with the latest Android™ platform and breathtaking design to entertain and wow consumers. .”

According to the Entertainment Software Association of Canada’s 2010 Essential Facts:
· The average game player age is 33 and 38 percent of game players are women

Xperia™ PLAY

XperiaTM PLAY delivers the smartphone functionality that the most serious power users could need, teamed with the immersive gaming experience that any gamer would want.

In portrait mode, the Android smartphone offers all the benefits that users have come to expect from Sony Ericsson’s existing range of XperiaTM smartphones with best-in-class entertainment experiences, a great 5 megapixel camera, a brilliant 4” multi-touch screen and great social networking features.

However, slide out thegaming control and users enter a new world of immersive mobile gaming. The slide out game pad reveals a digital D pad, two analog touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons: circle, cross, square and triangle. Qualcomm’s optimized Snapdragon processor with a 1Ghz CPU and embedded Adreno GPU graphics processor deliver silky smooth 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming and Web browsing with minimal power consumption so XperiaTM PLAYusers can enjoy long hours of battery life and game time.

XperiaTM PLAY will run on Gingerbread (version 2.3), the latest version of Google’s AndroidTM platform. The XperiaTM PLAY will also be the first PlayStation Certifieddevice. This means it will have access to PlayStation® game content provided through the PlayStation® Suite initiative, currently under development by Sony Computer Entertainment and due to launch later this calendar year.

Sony Ericsson has partnered with key publishers in the gaming industry to deliver a rich, vibrant ecosystem at launch and post launch with many leading new titles available via the AndroidTM Marketplace. Leading franchises coming to Xperia™ PLAY includes EA’s Sims 3 and a world-first multiplayer version of FIFA 10 for mobile. Sony Ericsson is also partnering with Unity Technologies, using its award-winning development platform, to ensure a continuous flow of high quality 3D game titles.

Xperia™ arc

Xperia™ arc takes the stunning design that Sony Ericsson has become known for to a new level. Super slim and light, Xperia™ arc is just 8.7mm at its thinnest part and has an extra wide 4.2” multi-touch screen. Created from premium materials and with a stunning arc body, this smartphone is sleek,and designed to fit perfectly in the user’s hand. The best of Sony™ technology is inside Xperia™ arc. The Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal clear image which enhances the overall entertainment experience.Furthermore, Sony’s award-winning Exmor R™ for mobile sensor, with the f/2.4 lens, enables the capture of high quality, bright pictures and HD videos even in low light. All pictures and videos can be shared in HD on your living room TV via the built in HDMI-connector.

Xperia™ arc will launch on the latest version of the Android™ 2.3 platform providing access to Google Mobile™ Services and the myriad of applications available on the Android market. Xperia™ smartphones add best in class entertainment on top of smartphone fundamentals such as apps, maps, email and fast Internet to create the most entertaining smartphone experience.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc – Key Features
· Slim, lightweight and strong, with perfect ergonomics
· Extra wide 4.2” multi-touch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine to ensure ultimate multimedia and viewing experiences
· Sony Exmor R™ for mobile: for best-in-class low-light photography and video capture
· 8.1 megapixel camera and HD video recording capability
· Android Market™ – thousands of applications to keep you entertained

more pics here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/sonyericssonsocial

[jid]

Hell yeah!! Can't wait

[johnnyriv]

I've heard that SE's support is awful at best with android devices and the updates are non-existant.
They sure make cool looking devices but it stops there and i'm a fan of Sony but i support would be nice.

Any thoughts ?

[oboro]

Hopefully Futureshop or Bestbuy will have one of those on display so i can go and test it before paying the big bucks for it...

[Eluder]

My guess is SE will do better this time around since they probably learned from the X10 launch and what the market really wants with regards to Android updates.
It's nice that both come with gingerbread though, so at least they'll be current and not behind like the X10.

[bongdw]

I was feeling super reluctant after purchasing the Xperia X10 and having such a horrible experience with SE, but it looks like the Arc is the phone the X10 was supposed to be. I had so much trouble pre-ordering mine and ended up paying full price and missing out on the free Bluetooth accessory as well.

So tough... this, the Atrix or the Optimus 2X?!?!

[evilbaby]

My guess is SE will do better this time around since they probably learned from the X10 launch and what the market really wants with regards to Android updates.
It's nice that both come with gingerbread though, so at least they'll be current and not behind like the X10.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

However I am excited I might finally have a phone I can use my upgrade credit for. I'll probably still wait for the iPhone5 so I can sell it purchase the Atrix(if the bootloader gets unlocked) but you never know. The Xperia Play intrigues me.

[johnmoon]

SE will fail again like they did with X10, their new line ups are decent but nothing special
If they dont drop their shipment before LG or Samsung does
(LG Optimus 3D or Galaxy S 2, expect to be released before March ends)
I mean who would buy it unless they are being sold at $0 with 3yr contract
when we can get a better phone with a dual processor around the same price

[CGY Guy]

SE will fail again like they did with X10...

+1.

Sony has nothing I want these days. And, I really have issues with their proprietary formats, and suing people ala the PSP hack to run another OS. I want to buy my device, not buy a license to use it.

Sony, you fail. Massively.

[brades]

I have the X10... never again will I buy a SE product.

[JPTN]

Sony's learned from the X10 and has already committed to more updates: http://admin.androidcentral.com/sony...timely-updates

I bought the X10 back in April (1 day before release) and patiently waited for 2.1, then flashed using generic global firmwares, updated multitouch, tweaked HSPA settings, etc. It's still a great phone.

[tech4fun]

It has Android 2.3 good enough Xperia Arc looks interesting when are they going to be released?

[JPTN]

"Spring 2011" so hopefully by April again.

Rogers RedBoard: http://redboard.rogers.com/2011/sony...s-this-spring/

[Davidkny]

What I want to know is if the Xperia Play would be able to play the PSone and PSP game bought from the Playstation network. That would be the main reason I would buy the Xperia Play


Sent from my iPhone4 using HowardForums

[DeadPenguins]

What I want to know is if the Xperia Play would be able to play the PSone and PSP game bought from the Playstation network.

apparently you will need to repurchase all content

The PlayStation Network has quite a number of PSOne Classics in its archive, some of which may have already found their way into your PS3 or your PSP. Unfortunately, the classics that you already purchased from the PlayStation Store will have to be purchased again if you want to have them on the Xperia Play.

The confirmation came from Nathan Vautier, managing director for Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland. "[Xperia Play owners] will have to repurchase the games, so it's not totally integrated," he said. "I think the exciting thing is that there are games which people are very, very aware of."

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6298836.html