Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman
August 18, 2005 | Senay TOPCUOGLU
A new mobile music era is born as the Sony Ericsson W800i Walkman phone hits the shelves in Europe
Friday 12 August, London, sees digital mobile music being taken to the next level as the first in a new family of Walkman phones from Sony Ericsson arrive.
The W800i - a phone that allows people to make calls, listen to music and take great pictures and video anywhere and at any time all with one device.
Hitting the shelves on the 12 August across the EMEA 1) markets, the phone is a stylish deep orange and smooth white handset featuring the familiar Walkman logo. It offers an MP3 player capable of storing up to 125 tracks* of digital music or 10-12 albums to be taken from the user's CD collection via easy-to-use computer software. The W800i also boasts a 2 megapixel, autofocus digital camera together in one pocket-sized mobile device. Also included is Disk2Phone PC software and an USB cable, making it fast and easy to transfer music from CDs to the W800i via a PC (so-called "CD ripping").
The next addition to the Walkman family is the recently announced W550i, which will be available in EMEA markets from the beginning of Q4. This bright, funky phone is primarily aimed at fun seekers who want to combine digital music, imaging and an authentic games console experience in one easy-to-use product. The phone contains enough entertainment features to keep the user occupied when with a group of friends or alone and can also be personalised with a range of Style-Up covers. The W550i also features a full internet browser so users can be kept up-to-date on the latest movie schedules or music news.
"Friday, August 12th marks the beginning of an eagerly awaited journey as digital music and mobile telephony combine to enable consumers to enjoy their music without ever missing a call. With good battery life, the robustness of a mobile phone plus music, imaging and voice capability means Walkman phones are set to change the face of mobile music forever", said Stefan Streit, Vice President EMEA Marketing, Sony Ericsson.
As the W800i has music at the heart of the phone, a number of music-focused events are taking place to support the phone's launch, including a collaboration with none other than music legend - Jamiroquai. Kicking off with a press conference, Jamiroquai's front man, Jay Kay, revealed the W800i to EMEA journalists at a questions and answer session in London, before going on to perform an exclusive VIP gig to around 700 guests at the Shepherd's Bush Pavilion. The concert featured tracks from his exciting new album 'Dynamite' a month before the artist begins his Sony Ericsson sponsored European Tour.
On the launch day itself, Jay Kay is selling and signing some of the first Walkman phones sold at the Oxford Street Carphone Warehouse in London. The first 50 lucky customers also receive a copy of his album 'Dynamite'.
Jay Kay, said "My first introduction to music on the move was through my old Walkman player. The Walkman phones combine all the things I look for in a gadget. A phone, so I don't have to miss any calls, a camera, so I can take pictures while I am on tour, and the best part is that I can listen to my favourite music on the move - everything in one."
On a global level, Sony Ericsson is compiling 'The Walkman phones 100' - the first soundtrack of the world's favourite songs of all time. Music lovers across the globe are invited to log onto www.walkmanphones100.com to register their top three tracks and the reasons why these songs make up the soundtrack to their life.
Further local launch activity will be taking place across the EMEA Market to support the arrival of the W800i. From partnerships with major music events such as The Moscow Annual Jazz Festival, Ringfest in Cologne and PopKomm in Berlin to securing headline sponsorship at the Sunrise Open Air Fesitival in Portugal and key music clubs in Istanbul throughout the summer.
Launch activity in the UK includes a partnership between Sony Ericsson and Manumission and the Barfly to present 'Ibiza Rocks,' a weekly live music series which started in July in Ibiza with an emphasis on the fusion of DJs and bands. Street sampling using personalised W800i breakdancers called the B Boys Breakdance will also be taking place from the 12th August in shopping centres and outdoor venues in nine cities. Both events run until September 2005.
W800i - Tri-Band 900/1800/1900 MHz.
* W800i users can purchase further memory sticks to give unlimited storage.
About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications serves the global communications market with innovative and feature-rich mobile phones, accessories, PC-cards and business solutions. Established as a joint venture by Ericsson and Sony in 2001, with headquarters in London, the company employs approx. 5,000 people worldwide, including R&D sites in Europe, Japan, China and America. For more information, please visit www.sonyericsson.de.
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