LONDON, December 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Ericsson's newest phone in the Xperia(TM) range, the X8, is meeting the needs of those consumers who find many touchscreen smartphone (http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperiax8?...) handsets too big or too small and also not within their price range.

With features taken from both the Xperia(TM) X10 and mini, the X8, which started to be available globally from October 2010 is expected to attract even more phone users to the smartphone ( http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperiax10...) market. The size is one of the main reasons for its appeal. Neatly placed between these two popular Sony Ericsson Xperia(TM) phones it has a 3 inch capacitive touchscreen, meaning one-handed navigation and typing messages on the virtual QWERTY keyboard is made easy.

The Xperia(TM) X10 is 20mm longer and 9mm wider than the X8 and the X8 is 16mm longer and 4mm wider than the X10 mini and 9mm longer and 2mm than the mini pro. The screen boasts 320 x 480 pixels (HVGA) so whilst users can enjoy excellent quality images and videos, it also allows them to access extra applications that require high resolution.

Another aspect of the Xperia(TM) X8 that people will find attractive is its price point. Typically available for under 200 Euros retail it is the most affordable Sony Ericsson Android phone ever. The X8 fills a gap in the touchscreen smartphone market, meaning more consumers than ever can enjoy simple access to Sony Ericsson applications and features, such as Timescape. Users can connect to online applications through 3G or Wi-Fi and whilst on the move they can use Google Maps and GPS to easily find their way around.

Ben Padley, Head of Digital and CRM for Sony Ericsson, said: "Sony Ericsson's new phone, the X8, gives consumers more choice when it comes to finding the right touchscreen smartphone for them. Some users love the compactness of the X10 mini but others the more handheld PC feel of the X10. However, a handset sized in the middle, like the X8, is just what some consumers have been waiting for."

For more information on the X8 and other handsets in the Xperia(TM) range, such as the X10 mini Android ( http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/xperiax10...) phone, visit http://www.sonyericsson.com.

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Pete Goold info@punchcomms.com +44(0)1858-411-600