Sony Ericsson Updates Smartphone

Technology News reports on Sony Ericsson's newest smartphone, the P990, which comes with Symbian operating system version 9.1, UMTS and WiFi integrated keyboard under flip-down number keypad, and a 2 megapixel camera.

Phil Redman at Gartner noted that while smartphone technology is improving, pricing is still too high. He said, "In 2008, we think they will account for 70 percent of business phones, so we think there's going to be rapid growth. It's because today's US$300 or $400 smartphone is tomorrow's free phone. We think it's still a price issue."

As features and components become commoditized then lower pricing may follow. He added, "Today, a camera may be standard, because it's standard in every phone. Maybe it will be GPS or virtual display. Who knows?"

Yankee Group senior analyst John Jackson thought the smartphone market would segment into "two distinct directions for enterprise users and for consumers." Jackson said, "What's more important is whether the smartphone is part of a broader solution, like e-mail oriented. The market has to be shown the advantages before there is that market inflection [and broader adoption]."