Sony Ericsson shows compact smartphones

SMARTPHONE ANNOUNCEMENTS show no sign of letting up at the Mobile World Congress today and Sony has joined the action by launching two high-end models.

Sony claims that it's "challenging the norm" with its Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro smartphones by combining high-end features with a version of Sony Ericsson's powerful User Experience (UX) software specifically designed for smaller devices. The X10 Mini and Mini Pro are shrunken versions of Sony's high-end Xperia X10 smartphone that it launched at the tail end of last year.

Both are expected to use Sony's Timescape that puts all social networking communications into one package and will have a 600MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, 3G and quad-band EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, and a 2GB microSD card.

The two Xperia Mini models will ship in a range of colours. The Mini will ship in black, pearl white, lime, pink, red and silver, while the Mini Pro features just black and red. There is a minuscule size difference between the two models, and the Mini Pro features a QWERTY keyboard.

According to Sony, both will run the Android OS with signature applications and its customisable UX software framework. Sony is also throwing you to the Android market store to help give it a wider platform to rival Apple's App store, Intel's recently announced Atom apps and what we can only guess Microsoft will do for Windows Mobile 7.0.

"There has been an enormous buzz around Xperia X10 so it is really exciting to be already unveiling compact versions of this powerful proposition," said Rikko Sakaguchi, EVP and chief creation officer at Sony Ericsson. "With the X10 mini and X10 mini pro we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with smaller devices and are giving consumers exactly what they want; two high performance mobile phones with a fully customisable user experience platform and a stunning ultra-compact design."

Sony hasn't announced details about a UK release date but Engadget has grabbed a press release that you can see here. µ