More details of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Smartphone

Now here's a phone that's had me all excited ever since it was first announced at the Mobile World Congress back in February. The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 is a smartphone set to challenge the mighty Nokia E90. If looks are anything to go by, the XPERIA wins hands down, but as with any smartphone, it's not the looks that matter, it's the features and how easy they are to use.

Sony Ericsson are keeping tight lipped about the applications on offer with the XPERIA X1 for the moment, but they have released a set of specifications for the phone, if it's incomplete.

Full spec of the XPERIA X1 after the jump.

The first thing to note is that the XPERIA X1 is absed on Widows Mobile 6.1, which marks a departure for Sony Ericsson phones as they've never used Windows Mobile before. This brings greater synchronization with the desktop (at least if you have a Windows-based PC, anyway), but at the cost of the dreadful Mobile Internet Explorer.

Sony Ericsson have also been shouting loudly about the new User Interface of the XPERIA X1, which they see as capable fo taking on the iPhone. The X1's UI is controllable trough a 3" VGA touchscreen that can support 65,536 colours. The UI uses what Sony Ericsson call Panels, which are distinct blocks of functionality that the user can move around the screen at will.

According to Rikko Sakaguchi, Sony Ericsson's Head of Portfolio and Propositions, "No two individuals have the same tastes and desires. Sony Ericsson's XPERIA™ X1 has been developed to ensure that mobile web communication and multimedia entertainment can be tailored, putting the individual at the heart of the mobile experience in a uniquely personal way."

Applications can be built around panel technology, and Sony Ericsson will be working with both operators and application developers to create nifty new panels once the XPERIA X1 has been launched.

Speaking of which, despite rumours that it wouldn't be released until 2009, Sony Ericsson have said that the XPERIA X1 release date will be the second half of 2008. Which is just as well, really, as apart from its flashy interface, the X1 is competing feature for feature with the Nokia E90, and that's been out for over six months now. By the time the X1 is released, there should be a new E90 about to be released, so Sony Ericsson need to get a move on if the X1 is to compete effectively.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Specification

And so what of the X1's specs then? Welll, they're not fully fleshed out yet, but here are what Sony Ericsson are aiming to cram into the X1:
Camera

* Camera - 3.2 megapixel
* Video recording
* Photo light
* Digital zoom - 3x
* Auto focus

Entertainment

* 3D games
* Video viewing
* Video streaming
* Java
* Radio - FM radio RDS

Communication

* Video calling
* Vibrating Alert
* Speakerphone
* Polyphonic ringtones

Music

* Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
* Windows Media® Player Mobile
* PlayNow™
* Music tones
* Media Player

Connectivity

* aGPS
* WLAN
* USB support
* USB mass storage
* Synchronisation
* Modem
* Bluetooth™ technology

Design

* XPERIA™ panels
* Optical joystick navigation
* Picture wallpaper
* Navigation key

Internet

* Internet Explorer® Mobile
* RSS feeds

Messaging

* Exchange ActiveSync®
* Text messaging (SMS)
* Predictive text input
* Picture messaging (MMS)
* Email

Organiser

* Touch-screen
* Tasks
* Phone book
* Notes
* Handwriting recognition
* Flight mode
* Document readers
* Document editors
* Calendar
* Calculator
* Alarm clock

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 is looking good. It's got all the features you'd want, and looks great, too. Can't wait to see it in the flesh!