Saturday, January 12, 2008 Cell phone maker to introduce new handset models this year
JAPANESE-Finnish mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson is looking at introducing at least 25 new models this year as it begins 2008 with the introduction of two new handsets to the local market.
Sony Ericsson and Smart Communications launched in Cebu City yesterday the Sony Ericsson K850i and K770i mobile phones. The two handset models are available for the first time through the Smart Gold postpaid plan.
Dino Romano, Sony Erics-son account manager for Smart, said the company hopes to be able to introduce this year about the same number of handsets it launched in 2007.
“We introduced 25 last year. We’re looking at the same number this year covering all (handset) categories,” he said.
While Sony Ericsson ranks fourth among the top five vendors worldwide, according to the research firm IDC, it is confident it would be able to come up with handsets equipped with features that cannot be found in other cellular phones.
“We will be introducing new technology into the Walkman phones…such as the shake control and ‘sense me’ features,” he said in an interview. He added that Sony Ericsson is also looking at mobile phones that enable the user to watch television shows.
World number one mobile phone vendor, Nokia, introduced last year a handset with mobileTV features.
Romano said, though, that Sony Ericsson is “growing aggressively” in the country, especially among the middle- to high-end market segments. Its most popular handsets are the Cyber-shot and Walkman series.
To reach a wider market, Romano said, Sony Ericsson decided to introduce the latest Sony Ericsson handsets with Smart first.
Cherry Caluya, chief of Smart’s loyalty and retention marketing division, said Smart hopes to bring Sony Ericsson a wider market base.
The K850i is available for free with the Smart Gold P3,500 plan while the K770i comes with the Smart Gold P1,800 retention plan.
“The Sony Ericsson phones are also known for reliability,” she said, adding that even though Sony Ericsson is not on top of the rankings at present, “the market is still growing.”
EDN magazine, quoting an IDC report, said Sony Ericsson had the largest year-over-year shipment increase among vendors in 2007. (LAP)
