Sony Ericsson jumping the Windows Mobile bandwagon?

Taiwan-based and always well informed Commercial Times today reported, that HTC (High Tech Computer) has received ODM orders for Windows Mobile-based smartphones from Sony Ericsson (you know - the guys behind Symbian-based UIQ), which will market the new smartphone in the second half of 2008. Volume shipments of the smartphone - Sony Ericsson's first Windows Mobile-based smartphone and HTC's first ODM orders from a first-tier handset vendor - are expected to top over one million units and to account for 10 - 20 % of HTC's total shipments projected for 2008, the Commercial Times said.

HTC stocks jumped 4 % after the news revealed.

Okay, this is just a rumor so far and I'm somewhat skeptical, that a shareholder of Symbian could jump the Windows Mobile bandwagon as well but who knows? Sony Ericsson entrance to the Windows Mobile world would definitely help to see stylish and functional smartphones - running Windows Mobile.

Fring now works on Sony Ericsson P1i

Actually, I’m not quite sure why Fring announced that their VoIP application works with the recently released Sony Ericsson P1i — I thought when they released Fring for the UIQ 3 platform that P1i is also included. Guess, Sony Ericsson additionally tweaked P1i to make it work much better than the P990i.

Anyway, in case you miss a VoIP client on your brand new WiFi-enabled Sony Ericsson smartphone, look no further. Fring will not only provide you with Fring-to-Fring communication, but will also make all your Skype, ICQ, MSN, Google Talk and Twitter contacts available through the familiar interface…

Nokia E61i vs. Sony Ericsson P1i

The Sony Ericsson line of smart phones have long had a loyal fan following, and when the P990i went on sale at the end of 2006, interest was high because it was a smart phone that will please tech-minded consumers and professionals. The Nokia E61, on the other hand, appealed to business users and IT professionals with its suite of applications powered by the Series 60 platform. But what really shone were its extensive connectivity features and the omission of a camera. In this prizefight, we pit the successors of these two popular smart phones--the Nokia E61i and the Sony Ericsson P1i--in a knockout match to see which will emerge the winner. We cannot promise that it'll be a clean fight, but it'll be a fair one.

Smart and glossy

If you are hunting for a new smartphone, be on the look out for the Sony Ericsson P1i.

Not to be confused with Sony Ericsson's previous smartphone, the M600, the P1i has a classier feel to it.

The phone has 3G and WiFi connectivity options, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

It comes with a rather unusual Qwerty keyboard – each key represents two letters so a slight rocking motion with the thumb is needed to select the letters.

If this proves to be a bit hectic for you then you can opt to use the stylus instead.

You can expect the P1i to arrive at our shores sometime in the third quarter of this year, which is really not too long to wait.

Pricing has yet to be announced