July 22nd, 2008
By Michell

A look at PlayNow Arena

Maximys over at SEMC Blog has just reported that the upcoming PlayNow Arena services will be launched in two versions; one for your computer and one for your phone. I like the look of both versions, and I sincerely hope this will be used by consumers. This should also make it easier for new musicians to make a name for themselves.

Maximys also added that the services will soon be launched in Sweden and the United Kingdom, while the rest of us will have to wait a bit longer. I’m sure I’ll get round to do a review of the service once it launches, though.

Here’s an internal test view at the PlayNow Arena service for computers, also dubbed the Web service.

And here are a few screenshots of the handheld services for mobile phones, dubbed the WAP service.

Source: SEMC Blog

Filed under: Entertainment, Fun, Upcoming, Web
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July 18th, 2008
By Michell

Sony Ericsson announces Q2 results - what a joke…

If nothing happens, Sony Ericsson's headquarters will soon be invaded by angry Sony Ericsson fans

If nothing happens, Sony Ericsson's headquarters will soon be invaded by angry Sony Ericsson fans

Sony Ericsson today announced its Q2 financial results. During the second quarter of 2008 Sony Ericsson achieved break-even results, and once again declared that the market is “proving challenging”. This has to be the third time they’ve come up with those ground-breaking statements. I’m guessing that’s what their “continued R&D investments” have been used it, as it most certainly wasn’t used for researching and developing anything phone related.
Another ‘highlight’ in Sony Ericsson’s press release about the Q2 financial results is the announcement of Symbian Foundation. To me it seems like this was only added because there was nothing just slightly exciting left for the PR crew to add.

So, let’s get to the results. They’re bad - really bad.

  • During the second quarter of the year, Sony Ericsson just managed to ship a total of 24.4 million units; that’s lower than the total amount of shipped units in Q2 2007. YoY change: -2.05 %
  • The sales brought in a total of 2,820 million Euro. Once again, significantly lower than last year’s sales. YoY change: -10.35 %
  • The gross margin fell from 29.2 % in Q1 to 23.1 % in Q2. YoY change: -28.14 %
  • The operating income has turned negative, and is now at -2 million Euro. YoY change: - 100.63 %
  • The net income is now down to 6 Million Euro. YoY change: -97.28 %

Isn’t that just pathetic? Sony Ericsson yet again blames the market for being challenging - did I say that before (?) - and once again don’t think the mid/high-end markets are the ones to go for. Once again, my guess is that they are looking at their own facts and numbers, and found out their mid/high-end devices are simply not popular. I wonder why…

I guess faithful Sony Ericsson owners can start getting acquainted to getting larger and larger amounts of low-end phones.

- We are aligning our operations and resources worldwide to meet an increasingly competitive business environment and to help restore our capability for profitable growth. The measures we are taking are aimed at becoming a faster, more agile and more cost efficient organisation that can continue to create innovative products that excite consumers, says Hideki Komiyama, Sony Ericsson’s President in the press release.

- Our target is to achieve a reduction in operating expenses of Euro 300 million annually, with the full effect expected to appear within a year. We estimate that our restructuring charges will be of the same magnitude as our reduction in operating expenses, and we will incur such charges as our measures are implemented, he continues.

What he fails to mention is that this will mean up to 2,000 Sony Ericsson employees will get sacked. Such a pity.

I sincerely hope this is the kick in the behind Sony Ericsson needs to rise again. If not, then I don’t have any plans of staying with this company.

You can read the full joke over here.

Filed under: Announcement, Corporative, Market, Market share, Videos
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July 17th, 2008
By Michell

“The next chapter in mobile music”

Sony Ericsson today officially confirmed the rumours - July 22 is the date of the next product announcement. According to our information, a total of three handsets will be announced - W302, W585/W595 & W902. Alicia (W707) is a cancelled project.

Once again we’ve got the stuff about the phones, but we’ll keep it to ourselves for now. Sony Ericsson didn’t like our recent leaks, especially not the C905 one, so we’ll play good this time ;-)

You can check out Sony Ericsson’s minisite for the upcoming announcement here.

Filed under: Announcement, Music, Walkman
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July 15th, 2008
By xell

Mobile Review’s first impressions of W902/595/302

Eldar is a man who once loved Sony Ericsson. With the latest models, this love is gone and it hurts him. It seems like the line-up for the announcement at July 22nd is nothing to bring back the love again. Read his impressions about the three phones in the following articles:

Sony Ericsson W902
Sony Ericsson W595
Sony Ericsson W302

Filed under: Article, W series, Walkman
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July 13th, 2008
By Michell

Feng and Remi goes live

Yet another of the rumoured phones to be announced on July 22 has today been leaked - W302, codenamed Feng, which is a Walkman branded S302. This means it’s got a 2 mega pixel fixed focus camera, 176 x 220 pixels display and it runs the A2 software platform.

We told you about the T610 remake almost two weeks ago, and now more photos of this phone, still only known by its codename (Remi), have been leaked. Remi is a candybar phone, probably for the T-series range of phones. It features a mediocre 3.2 mega pixel camera without auto focus, though with a flash LED, as well as HSDPA for speedy Internet connections. It’s basically a generic version of W890. Remi is not going to be announced on July 22.

Let’s start off with Feng…

Continue reading “Feng and Remi goes live”

Filed under: New phone, Prototype, Rumour, T series, W series, Walkman
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