Sony Ericsson rolls out Xperia arc, neo this summer

MANILA, Philippines - Sony Ericsson has announced that its flagship smartphones, the much-awaited Xperia arc and the new Xperia neo, roll out nationwide this summer, starting with the Xperia arc this month. 

Specially marked kits of the Xperia arc will come with the AN-400 Sony Ericsson car charger until the end of April.

Both Xperia smartphones will also be released with a high-definition (HD) game promotion, where customers can choose three out of 10 HD game titles to download until June 30.

Some of the exciting HD game choices include Asphalt 5, Tom Clancy’s HAWX, Assassin’s Creed and Real Football 2011.

Both the Xperia arc and Xperia neo run on the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS for smartphones, and promise a faster, more responsive and smoother smartphone experience.  

For one, the system actively manages open applications to maximize performance and battery life. Aside from Google Mobile services, users also have about 150,000 free apps to choose from in the Android Market.

“In 2010, we saw double-digit increase in the global smartphone market, both in volume and value, a trend that is likely to continue in 2011. The global Android-based smartphone market grew to approximately 21 percent of the total market in 2010 from approximately five percent in 2009,” Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson GM said in a statement. 

“We expect smartphones to grow faster than the overall market trend, driven by the Android operating system,” Manzano said.

“We will focus on combining the best of the Android platform with Sony technology such as Exmor R, Mobile BRAVIA Engine as well as the Sony Ericsson User Experience Platform (UXP) and design in our new Xperia range of devices to offer an unmatched smartphone proposition for users,” he said.

“On top of this, we have exciting contents from Sony - games, music and films. Only Sony Ericsson can come to the market with such a compelling proposition,” he added.

In 2010, the company reported four straight quarters of profit and nearly 50 percent of global sales were driven by its smartphone line.

Sony technologies like Exmor R and the Mobile BRAVIA Engine are key differentiators for its smartphones. The Exmor R mobile sensor on these smartphones helps shoot stills and video in low light conditions while the Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine delivers exceptional visual brilliance and a crystal-clear image, enhancing the overall entertainment experience. 

All pictures and videos can be shared in high definition (HD) on one’s living room TV via the built-in HDMI connector.

Visual and imaging brilliance are complemented by entertainment content from sister companies like Sony Music and Sony Pictures. The popular HD game titles being bundled with the Xperia arc and neo are from gaming partners Gameloft and Ubisoft.

Sony Ericsson officials said this makes the company uniquely positioned to become a leader in the Android platform.

“We see 2011 as a year of growth and we’ve started it off with an exciting range of Android-based smartphones such as the Xperia arc and neo,” Manzano said.

“The local smartphone market is growing quite fast, with Android leading the way. More and more consumers are shifting to smartphones,” he added.

The Xperia arc features an extra-wide 4.2-inch, multi-touch and scratch-resistant mineral glass Reality Display. It is only 8.7 mm at its slimmest point and weighs a mere 117 grams.

The Xperia arc has an 8.1-megapixel camera with auto focus, LED flash, and f/2.4 aperture lens. It can record videos in HD at 720p.

The Xperia arc has a suggested retail price of P29,990 and is available in midnight blue and misty silver.

The Xperia neo, whose price was not yet announced during the launch, also has an 8.1-megapixel camera, LED flash, f/2.4 aperture lens and HD video recording and playback capability.

The Xperia neo also carries a GreenHeart headset and charger made from recycled plastic.