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BARCELONA, Spain Sony Mobile Communications unveiled the latest additions to its Xperia NXT series of smartphones, the Xperia P and Xperia U. In addition, Xperia S, a high-definition smartphone, is now shipping to markets across the globe, with first sales in the Sony Style store in Barcelona during the Mobile World Congress. The Xperia P and Xperia U will be available to consumers globally in the second quarter of this year.
The smartphones have new design features, including the “transparent element,” a band that encircles the base of the phone and also integrates invisible antenna components. The transparent element illuminates when receiving calls, texts and notifications. The new user interface (UI) follows the same design principles and is aimed at enhancing the Android experience. A new album, video player and music player delivers an upgraded entertainment experience, and the new UI design also allows consumers to access the application directly from the lock-screen.
The Xperia P and Xperia U boast Reality Display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine for enhanced clarity, along with fast capture to take the camera from sleep to snap in a little more than a second with a single key press. Both smartphones come with 1GHz dual-core processors.
As with Xperia S, Xperia P and Xperia U connect consumers to entertainment experiences with access to the Sony Entertainment Network. Consumers can watch movies on Video Unlimited or listen to songs through Music Unlimited.
With a full aluminium unibody design, Xperia P debuts WhiteMagic display technology from Sony for the first time on a smartphone. WhiteMagic technology delivers a brighter viewing experience; smart power efficiency automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to the surroundings to conserve battery life. The new SmartDock, for Xperia P, offers connectivity to multiple screens, turning the smartphone into an entertainment hub. Using a TV remote control, consumers can navigate their smartphones’ media content to watch HD videos and other content on a TV screen. With USB support in the SmartDock, users can also employ a wireless keyboard and mouse to write emails, browse and post on social media networks or watch videos from YouTube on their TV.
Key features for Xperia P include an 8MP camera with fast capture, HD recording and Sony technology to capture 2D and 3D panoramic images, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) connectivity to share content on any screen. The Xperia P is also near-field communication-enabled to access a range of NFC applications and services as well as Xperia SmartTags. Buyers have a choice of silver, black or red, each with an aluminum unibody.
The Xperia P launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), with an upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.
The Xperia U combines Sony entertainment in a compact design that consumers can personalize inside and out. With xLoud and Sony 3D surround sound audio technology integrated into the music player, users can also stream music from their Xperia U to wireless speakers using DLNA. For the Xperia U, the transparent element illuminates to match the color of photos viewed in the gallery or the album art of music tracks currently playing. The Xperia U can also be personalized with exchangeable caps and themes.
Users listening to music on their Xperia U can also enjoy improved sound quality with the new Smart Headset for Android smartphones, which features SmartKey, a dedicated application launch key that consumers press once to launch a favorite app. The smartphone also features a 5MP camera with fast capture and HD recording, is available in a choice of white or black, with pink and yellow exchangeable caps for the base of the smartphone in the box, and launches on Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgrade to Android platform 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) during the second quarter of 2012.