[Peter]

I've been looking at purchasing a new contract mobile phone, I've thought about a P800 but decided it was not worth the extra money. So I was going to today order a Sony Ericsson t68i. Then i heard about its replacement the T610. Does anyone know when and if this phone will be released in the UK? searched in places ... no luck

[Peter]

meh end of this year or early next year.

[JB72]

Dang that phone looks perfect. And I was just on my way out to get a T68i. Now I'm confused again...

[Peter]

Originally posted by JB72:
Dang that phone looks perfect. And I was just on my way out to get a T68i. Now I'm confused again...

so was I. Everyone made a mistake saying the T610 is 'released' or 'avaliable' according to Sony Erricson UK (08705237237) that was a press release, an american one at that. When asked when it will be avaliable they said late this year or early next year. Meh.
I think I'll buy a t68i then upgrade in 12 months time

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
Meh.
I think I'll buy a t68i then upgrade in 12 months time

Maybe meh two.

The Sony press release says Q2 2003. When is that (I don't speak corporate?) Summer?

[Peter]

Sony Ericsson unveils the visually powerful T610 mobile phone with integrated camera


March 4, 2003


- taking mobile imaging to next level with first phone flash accessory and QuickShare?

Today, at thirty events around the world, Sony Ericsson took mobile imaging to the next level by unveiling the T610 ? a 65K colour screen mobile phone with inbuilt digital camera. The T610 is the first Sony Ericsson product with QuickShare?; meaning that the products offer the easiest, fastest and smartest way to share images with friends, family or colleagues. The T610 utilises unique textured materials and a sophisticated finish in its design, making it visually powerful and stylish to look at. The T610 will start shipping in Q2 in Europe, Asia and North America.

Late this year I guess ...

[escher]

When used in non-financial-statement press releases, Q2 typically refers to the second quarter of the calendar year, i.e. April through June. So I hope we'll see this phone in early summer.

Personally, I'm torn between getting a free T68i now and waiting for the T610 as well. I don't care for the built-in camera but would like the larger screen. I don't know if that's enough to make me wait 4 more months though.

Escher

[JB72]

Q2 typically refers to the second quarter of the calendar year, i.e. April through June. So I hope we'll see this phone in early summer.

Coolio thanks. I hope we'll see it actually available from major services around the same time.

Personally, I'm torn between getting a free T68i now and waiting for the T610 as well. I don't care for the built-in camera but would like the larger screen. I don't know if that's enough to make me wait 4 more months though.

Well I'm getting myself all out of shape over this. I almost bought a T68i today for my Cingular service. Would have been about $150 w/ camera attachment. But now I'm checking out that T-Mobile deal pretty seriously. Maybe it's worth getting a new number. But what happens if there is a similar new customer deal when the T610 hits the streets? I can't change mobile numbers again then.

I played with the T68i today and I have to say that thing is seriously butt fugly. I could disguise it a bit with a new faceplate, but "lipstick on a pig" comes to mind. Plus the buttons were stiff and awkward. The T610, on the other hand, is right up my alley style-wise. Plus I'm really wanting that camera for cheap/simple snaps (I use 35mm for anything important to me.) And the T68i's screen isn't much raved about. OK I think I'm going to wait a bit and see what happens. My Nokia 8290 will have to hold out till Summer, or earlier hopefully. But then again, we won't exactly be seeing free Amazon deals for the T610. Oh mannnnn...

[Peter]

this wont be a free fone, I reckon it'll be about £100+ on a contract. The t68i is a truly awesome phone, a mate has one and I played with it. Its good IMO it looks very nice with the styling, unlike the square Nokias

[JB72]

his wont be a free fone, I reckon it'll be about £100+ on a contract.

Hey I'd gladly plop down a hundred quid for one of those babies. With a grin.

The t68i is a truly awesome phone, a mate has one and I played with it. Its good IMO it looks very nice with the styling, unlike the square Nokias

There seems to be a division here (square/curvey.) I'm not fond of the T68i's style, at all. But I'm drooling at the T610 pics. Still I could take a T68i in my hands for a period w/o too much problem.

[Peter]

so would I but I'd like a fone within the next month. Must have bluetooth and stuff - P800 is too expensive and useless when all you want is to fone people and use it to control your Mac
t68i for me, then in 12 months upgrade to t610

[JB72]

so would I but I'd like a fone within the next month. Must have bluetooth and stuff - P800 is too expensive and useless when all you want is to fone people and use it to control your Mac

I hear ya. And it doesn't make it any easier that everybodies talking about this tasty Sony Ericsson Clicker.

t68i for me, then in 12 months upgrade to the t610

I have a very strong feeling that I'll eventually do the same. I'm just trying to pause a bit and not be too impulsive (I tend to do that.) And I know I'd really benefit from the built in phone. But I also know there is the chance that we'll see problems with delays, overpricing, lack of service choice, and availability in the initial months of the T610 rollout. In that situation it would be great to have a T68i in hand while I wait for the situation to stabalize.

No worries though. It's good to have choices, and see all this great stuff emerging on the horizon. Sooner or later, my iPod will have a nice phone/PDA/camera buddy to hang out and iSync with.

[JB72]

Competing for my love...

[Peter]

I am guessing that image has been edited?

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
I am guessing that image has been edited?

I don't believe so. I just grabbed it from Phone Scoop.

[Peter]

so, how did they get hold of the T610 so early
*ponders*

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
so, how did they get hold of the T610 so early
*ponders*

Maybe they send out review models? Thievery? Espionage? I dunno. These people are more obsessive than I am, which is very unnerving.

Here's a review of the T610 already from Mobile-Review, (warning: non-native english speaker.) And a thread over at AI. There was a review from Howard at howard forums but it went down for bandwidth concerns I believe (freaks like me /.ing it.)



A short video of the T610, basic menu navigation (looks Snappy© .)

[haifischjunge]

I think it will be early summer, because many prototypes have already delivered to journalists.

It looks like the t610 is finished and already gone to produktion. Normaly it takes about 2 or 3 month between the start of the production and the market introduction, due to normal production problems and the need of a stock on market intro. (not like the 12" PB)

[Peter]

Originally posted by haifischjunge:
I think it will be early summer, because many prototypes have already delivered to journalists.

It looks like the t610 is finished and already gone to produktion. Normaly it takes about 2 or 3 month between the start of the production and the market introduction, due to normal production problems and the need of a stock on market intro. (not like the 12" PB)

would they give me one if I said I was a tech news guy and wanted to write a review ... for my GCSE? if they didn't send me one I would fail and get stuck in a dead end job and be poor. So I couldn't buy their phones in the future.

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
would they give me one if I said I was a tech news guy and wanted to write a review ... for my GCSE? if they didn't send me one I would fail and get stuck in a dead end job and be poor. So I couldn't buy their phones in the future.

Hrrrrm... I'm liking that approach. Or maybe crash events like this and try to look all important and say smart sounding stuff, then mabe take the first T610 you see. I like.

[Peter]

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 will be the headline game included with the phone. Wireless gaming was emphasized. One interesting comment was that Sony Ericsson is working on creating multi-platform multi-player wireless games, which will allow users to play games on their phones against friends on PlayStation consoles - over the Internet, in real time. Details have not been announced, but "the technology is there", and Sony Ericsson plans to have these types of games launched by the end of the year.

sweeeet

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
sweeeet

The T610 includes Java and the Mophun game platform. This is very smart; obviously Java is an important feature in a high-end phone, and if Mophun was only in the T3xx series phones, it would not be a very attractive platform for developers

That would be very nice for trains/planes. Tasty.

The Soviet mole is active once more...

Partly engineers overcame 2Mb barrier and offered to keep images and e-mails on their server. You can register there and then you?ll have an opportunity to download and upload pictures. Now we don?t know how much space the company will give you free.

Links to original pages are put in all menus, where there is a possibility to download a content. Besides, you can add your own ones. It?s very comfortable to use these links because you can save time on navigation.

Potential iDisk/.Mac interation? *ponders*



The camera resolution is somewhat of a letdown. Plus every friggin snap apparently has "mobile-review.com" printed on it.

Wakey Wakey! (ringtone)

-in other news-

One small announcement that many have overlooked is that the P800 will soon be available in a new color: Mineral Gray. This is great news for the U.S. market, where having a "serious-looking" phone is generally more of an issue than in other parts of the world.

Apparently we yanks are a very serious people . Actually the blue does look a tad froo froo imnsho.

[Peter]

hehe that is a nice phone (T610) shame it will be costly

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by JB72:
I have a very strong feeling that I'll eventually do the same. I'm just trying to pause a bit and not be too impulsive (I tend to do that.) And I know I'd really benefit from the built in phone. But I also know there is the chance that we'll see problems with delays, overpricing, lack of service choice, and availability in the initial months of the T610 rollout. In that situation it would be great to have a T68i in hand while I wait for the situation to stabalize.

I'd stay away from the T68i, if I were you. I had one for a few days and returned it cuz it basically (in my opinion) sucked. The battery life was pitiful and signal reception was simply unacceptable. I found the UI confusing and buggy. It crashed a bunch on me. And the build quality felt cheap and hollow. The T610 looks like it may be built better, but it's hard to say. I'd wait and see.

[Peter]

Originally posted by aaanorton:
I'd stay away from the T68i, if I were you. I had one for a few days and returned it cuz it basically (in my opinion) sucked. The battery life was pitiful and signal reception was simply unacceptable. I found the UI confusing and buggy. It crashed a bunch on me. And the build quality felt cheap and hollow. The T610 looks like it may be built better, but it's hard to say. I'd wait and see.

hehe well I bought one and I like it. the menus could do with a but more colour, shame you cannot customize the menus. But I can live with that .

[JB72]

Mobile Burn is reporting that the T610 was released on Saturday. I geuss they mean for Europe?


This software looks pretty neato. I wouldn't mind seeing a Mac port. *cough Sony cough*

[Peter]

From what I have heard from Sony Ericsson (been speaking to them for ages ) It has not been released.
I spoke to them and asked and they said it has not been released and they have not been told so expect a wait of around 6 weeks

[JB72]

Originally posted by PeterClark2002:
From what I have heard from Sony Ericsson (been speaking to them for ages ) It has not been released.
I spoke to them and asked and they said it has not been released and they have not been told so expect a wait of around 6 weeks

Yeh I think Mobile Burn is out of their minds. I think I would have seen this news somewhere else.

*note to self: "Mobile Burn" is about as reliable as "MacWhispers"*

I can wait on this phone I think. I have a feeling that they will pray on those people more "design sensitive" at release by setting a ridiculous initial price. Hopefully we'll see it get somewhat reasonable in the summer.

[Peter]

Originally posted by JB72:

*note to self: "Mobile Burn" is about as reliable as "MacWhispers"*

hehe true. The t610 looks the perfect alternative to the P800!

[JB72]

I thought I might drop this convenience link here, in case anybody is still checking this thread.

Software for Macintosh