14 DAY TRIAL // Sony Ericsson surely took its time before announcing its first Android-based mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, but it seems that the company might be set to get back that lost time. A new handset that would run under Google's Android platform is reportedly in the works over at Sony Ericsson, and rumor has it that the device is codenamed Shakira.
Unfortunately, no specific details on the phone emerged for the time being, though Engadget, which published the above photo, says it might come with a 3-inch display. The operating system version the new handset runs under is yet unknown, though Android 1.6 or 2.1 are the most likely options, it seems. However, the mobile phone is still expected to boast the company's own user interface, in case the rumor pans out in the end, of course.
While waiting for a confirmation on the existence of this Sony Ericsson Android phone, we should take a look at another device from the handset vendor, powered by the same platform, namely the Sony Ericsson X10 mini. Launched on the market as a smaller version of the high-end Xperia X10, the new handset is now available for purchase, at least in the UK.
Carphone Warehouse already listed the phone on its website, with a price tag ranging from free to as much as £249.95 ($359). Those interested in getting only the device would have to pay the full price for it, while others can have it for free on plans that start at £15 ($21.55) per month, with the possibility to choose the carrier they like the most from T-Mobile, 3, Orange, and Vodafone.
The Sony Ericsson X10 mini is a nice device, that's for sure, even if it is not running under the latest Android flavor out there. Sony Ericsson did promise that Android 2.1 Eclair would arrive on its X10 handsets during the fourth quarter of the ongoing year, but that's still a long wait, one should agree. The Sony Ericsson X10 mini is available for purchase here.