Sony Ericsson Jalou Officially Unveiled

Japanese-Swedish phone maker Sony Ericsson announced today the official launch of its newest handset, the Sony Ericsson Jalou. The new device comes in a flip form factor and, according to the company, represents its latest style statement. Being only 73mm long, it proves to be one of the tiniest handsets, while combining cutting-edge technology with some of the hottest fashion trends expected to emerge next year.

The device comes with a two-inch screen that, at the touch of a button, can be transformed into a mirror. In addition, the Sony Ericsson Jalou is the first phone from the company to come with the Walk Mate step counter, so as to help its owners stay in shape. The device's fashionable interface will automatically change according to zodiac signs and special events throughout the year. The new handset will come to the market in a series of colors, including Deep Amethyst, Aquamarine Blue and Onyx Black.

“Structured forms, intricate corners, hidden depths and jewel accents are set to be some of the hottest fashion trends in 2010. You can also expect to see deep and natural jewel colours on the runway next year. Jalou reflects these trends with its delicate facet-cut diamond shape design, clean and expressive lines and variety of different shine and matt finishes, that give depth to the handset,” comments Charles Hunt, Jalou head designer at Sony Ericsson. “The design team wanted the handset to reflect beauty found in nature. They looked at structure, strength and form in various crystalline jewels, which resulted in the unique shape.”

The specification list of the phone also shows a 240 x 320 pixel resolution for the display, with support for 262,144 colors, a 1.3-inch external display that boasts an 128 x 36 pixel resolution, a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper with video recording capabilities, video light and geotagging, Bluetooth stereo (A2DP), FM radio with RDS, USB support, A-GPS (for the US version only), microSD memory card slot, and a battery that can provide up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 350 hours of standby time.

At the same time, the device also comes with a wide range of features, including a media player with support for TrackID, the NetFront web browser, support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, instant messaging, MMS, SMS and Email, video streaming, Google Maps and 3D games, a YouTube application, and support for GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UTMS/HSPA 900/1700/2100 frequencies. The Sony Ericsson Jalou measures 73 x 45 x 18.2 mm, weighs 84 grams and is expected to become available for purchase in the fourth quarter of the ongoing year.