Sony Ericsson announces 3D-capable Xperia arc S

Sony officially announced the Xperia arc S, a high-end Android smartphone, during the IFA trade show in Berlin on Wednesday. The Xperia arc S is equipped with a 1.4GHz processor, the ability to shoot 3D and 3D panorama pictures, 8GB of storage, an 8.1-megapixel camera and a 4.3-inch Reality display with an 854 x 480-pixel resoluteness. The handset runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and has access to Sony’s Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited storefronts. Sony did not provide pricing details for the Xperia arc S but said the phone will be available in select global markets during the fourth quarter of this year in white, blue, silver, black and pink. Read on for the full press release.

"Sony Ericsson unveils its fastest entertainment experience to date with Xperia arc S

• Xperia™ arc S has a powerful 1.4 Ghz processor delivering up to 25% faster entertainment compared to Xperia arc ™
• Winner of the EISA award “European Camera Phone 2011-2012”*

31st August 2011, Berlin, Germany – Sony Ericsson today unveiled Xperia™ arc S at Sony’s press conference in conjunction with IFA in Berlin. Taking the award-winning sleek design from Xperia arc*,the latest addition to the Xperia™ family has a processor upgraded to 1.4Ghz, Sony 3D sweep panorama technology and access to the Sony Entertainment Network services – “Music Unlimited” and “Video Unlimited”**. Xperia™ arc S features 25% faster camera start up and media conversion , along with 20% faster web page rendering compared to Xperia™ arc***.

Consumers with a 2011 Xperia™ smartphone are now able to enjoy “Music Unlimited”and “Video Unlimited” subject to market availability**:

• “Music Unlimited” has a global catalogue of over 10 million unique songs**** with access to your personal music library and ad free radio channels across multiple devices.
• “Video Unlimited” (currently exclusive to Sony Ericsson Xperia™) is the ultimate source for the latest Hollywood blockbusters, all-time classics, and TV shows from all major studios.

Nikolaus Scheurer, Head of Product Marketing at Sony Ericsson said:  “Xperia™ arc S is the fastest and most entertaining Xperia™ to date and it clearly demonstrates how the Xperia™ family are the best smartphones to experience great entertainment services such as Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.”

In addition to these services, Xperia™ arc S includes best-in-class Sony technology such as 3D sweep panorama. 3D sweep panorama images can be captured and then viewed by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output.

Xperia™ arc S also has a visually brilliant 4.2” Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine, an 8.1mp camera with HD video capability and Sony’s award winning Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor that enhances still images and videos even in low light conditions.

Consumers also have access to a uniquely social entertainment experience of sharing and discovery with Facebook inside Xperia™, plus the extensive world of Android with over 250,000 applications.

Xperia™ arc S at a glance:

• Super fast 1.4 GHz processor
• 3D and 2D sweep panorama photography
• 8.1 MP camera with Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
• 4.2“ Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
• Latest Android™ platform Gingerbread 2.3

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc S will be available globally in selected markets from Q4 2011.
For full details all products news, please visit the press room and the product blog:

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/latestnews

http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products/

* Xperia™arc S and Xperia™ arc are winners of the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) award for European Camera Phone 2011-2012. Xperia™ arc is also the winner of the prestigious red dot Product Design Award 2011

** Availability of Sony Entertainment Network services:

• “Music Unlimited” and “Video Unlimited” are expected to become available on Xperia™ arc S and launch timing will vary by region. Customers will be notified when services are available.
• Markets for Video Unlimited: USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Australia, Canada and Japan
• Markets for Music Unlimited: USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, UK, France, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand

*** Based on internal tests.
**** The number of songs available from this catalogue varies by region

Colour

• Pure White
• Midnight Blue
• Misty Silver
• Gloss Black
• Sakura Pink

Facts 1)2)

• Size: 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm
• Weight: 117 grams
• Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)
• Processor: 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255

Camera

• 3D sweep panorama
• 8.1 megapixel camera
• 16x smart zoom
• Aperture f/2.4
• Auto focus
• Face detection
• Face recognition
• Flash/LED
• Geo tagging
• HD video recording (720p)
• Image stabiliser
• Red-eye reduction
• Scene detection
• Self-timer
• Send to web
• Smile detection
• Sony Exmor R™ for mobile image sensor
• Sweep panorama
• Touch capture
• Touch focus
• Video light
• Video recording
• Video stabiliser

Music

• Album art
• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
• Music tones (MP3/AAC)
• PlayNow™ service
• Sony Ericsson Music Player
• TrackID™ music recognition
• xLOUD™ Loudness Enhancement Technology

Internet

• Android Market™
• Bookmarks
• Google™ search
• Google Voice™ Search
• Pan & zoom
• Web browser (WebKit)

Communication

• Call list
• Conference calls
• Facebook™ application
• Facebook inside Xperia™ 2.0
• Google Talk™
• Noise Shield
• Polyphonic ringtones
• Sony Ericsson Timescape™
• Speakerphone
• Twitter™ (Timescape™integration)*
• Vibrating alert

Messaging

• Conversations
• Email
• Google Mail™
• Instant messaging
• Multimedia messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Sound recorder
• Text messaging (SMS)

Design

• Auto rotation
• Keyboard (on-screen, QWERTY)
• Live wallpaper
• Picture wallpaper
• Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
• Screenshot capturing
• Swipe to write
• Touch screen

Entertainment

* This service may not be available in every market

• 3D games
• Accelerated Adobe Flash Video
• Media browser
• Motion gaming
• Video  Unlimited
• Music Unlimited
• Radio (FM radio with RDS)
• Video streaming
• YouTube™*

Organiser

• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document readers
• E-Manual
• Flight mode
• Google Calendar™
• Google Gallery 3D
• Infinite button
• Phonebook
• Setup guide
• Widget manager

Connectivity

• 3.5 mm audio jack
• aGPS
• Bluetooth™ technology
• DLNA Certified™
• Google Latitude™
• Google Maps™ with Street View
• HDMI support
• Media Transfer Protocol support
• Micro USB support
• Modem
• Native USB tethering
• Synchronisation via Facebook™
• Synchronisation via Google Sync™
• Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync
• Synchronisation via Exchange ActiveSync®
• USB mass storage
• USB High speed 2.0 support
• USB OTG
• Wi-Fi®
• Wi-Fi® Hotspot functionality

Display

• 16,777,216 colour TFT
• Capacitive multi-touch
• 4.2 inches
• 854 x 480 pixels (FWVGA)
• Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant mineral glass

Memory

• Phone memory (user-free): Up to 320MB
• Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32GB

Networks

• UMTS HSPA 900, 2100
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

• UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900

Battery life

• Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 7 hrs 25 min*
• Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 460 hrs*

• Talk time UMTS: Up to 7 hrs 35 min*
• Standby time UMTS: Up to 460 hrs*

• Music listening time: Up to 37 hrs*
• Video playback time: Up to 6 hrs 25 min*

In the kit

• Xperia™ arc S
• Removable battery
• Stereo portable handsfree
• 8GB microSD™ memory card
• Charger
• Micro USB cable for charging
• Synchronisation and file transfer
• User documentation

*According to GSM Association Battery Life Measurement Technique. Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configurations, and phone usage."