Sony Ericsson delays P990, adds ActiveSync support

Sony's long-awaited P990 smartphone has been delayed further, according to The Wall Street Journal. The phone is now due out in the second quarter of this year, rather than the first quarter. But it may be worth the wait: Sony has now confirmed that the phone will be compatible with both RIM's Blackberry Connect service (assuming it's still around by then) and Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol, making it an even more tempting purchase for corporate buyers who want to hedge their bets (or actually run Exchange Server). The M600, announced yesterday, will also support both services.

[mroach @ Feb 7th 2006 10:30AM]

Nice! I didn't know it was going to have BB Conect. I'm looking forward to this device.

[phi @ Feb 7th 2006 10:41AM]

While they're at it, they should add the 850mhz band and EDGE to it since they're taking their sweet ass time.

[Alex @ Feb 7th 2006 10:42AM]

While they're at it, if they make it quad band, that'd be great. :)

[Nihls @ Feb 7th 2006 10:54AM]

Let me guess it uses a special memory card called SC4. SC= Screw Customer format.

[Levi @ Feb 7th 2006 10:56AM]

Grr, contacted se and its true, meaning it may not be here till the middle of summer!!! I've been holding off on a new phone for this! Why can't they release it and then do a free update, the p900 etc had the option to updating the software so I'm sure this one can. And besides whats the point of adding RIM, that might not even be around much longer. At the rate things are going there will be a replacement before its released.

[Totalfixation @ Feb 7th 2006 1:57PM]

How about addeding Quadband, and UMTS Support for Cingular while your at it?

[T-mobile @ Feb 7th 2006 3:38PM]

#6, Cingular Sucks, So does 850, Stop crying and get 1900

[goddaddo @ Feb 7th 2006 5:13PM]

Very well said, T-mobile! Cingular Sucks :)

[Gregory Pierce @ Feb 7th 2006 6:03PM]

Actually both T-Mobile and Cingular suck. Its really just a matter of which one sucks less and that depends on time of day, location in country, price you want to pay, and desire to have high speed data connections.

[Gregory Pierce @ Feb 7th 2006 6:07PM]

Totalfixation, the P990 spects say its supposed to support UTMS BTW

3G/UMTS � enjoy the latest operator services

[ehab @ Feb 7th 2006 6:48PM]

Its really disappointing what did SE do by keeping fans waiting for ages..shame!!

[mroach @ Feb 7th 2006 8:49PM]

#7 - I'm with you. I was pretty ashamed of T-Mobile when they started using 850 and stopped selling 900/1800/1900 phones. At least I have the money to buy phones online so I can still get my 900/1800/1900 goodness. I spend more time in places where I use 900 than in places that I'd need 850.

[Motorola 3G Victim @ Feb 7th 2006 11:29PM]

Let's be clear: CIngular UMTS HSDPA sucks.

My UMTS phones, yes plural, stopped working in November and every time I call them these past few months they offer to "upgrade" me to GSM!

As for Sony. I know several thousand Treo 700w users who are desperately trying to get away from Active Sync and Sony builds it into their phones? Forget the SC4 memory card, they built in the SC sync platform instead. I'd rather they had built in the SC4 card, at least you could depend upon it to work!

[RR @ Feb 8th 2006 1:12AM]

I dont know if how familiar you are with this phone but Active Sync is just one of the e-mail it supports. The phone supports a lot of email provider. Here is the list.

E-mail provider support:

AlteXia
Ericsson Mobile Office (EMO) (Try and Buy)
iAnywhere OneBridge
Intellisync
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
RIM - BlackBerry Connect
Seven
Visto
Standard Email - IMAP IDLE working on all standards compliant servers

[Tom @ Feb 8th 2006 8:01PM]

they should use the time to get rid of the flip and make it a bit sexier

[ScaredyCat @ Feb 9th 2006 6:48AM]

Yeah, yeah

I have a p910i and that was supposed to have a blackberry client but if you actually tried to find one or talk to SE/RIM each pointed at the other... So before you buy for that reason - check that they aren't lying again.

Personally I'm never buying a SE phone again. Far too many irritations in use - It has to be bad if it makes me miss my Nokia 6310i !

[Mike Mogadas @ Feb 10th 2006 12:45PM]

WTF!!! i was waiting until March 1st for its release, now its middle of the summer! shit, since i heard about the phone on Oct10 ak.a my b-day. My dad just gave me the money to buy this and i did preorder it since then, Fukcing shit, This same thing happened to the Mtorola MPX-300. Well, i guess i have to keep my P910i for now, and i think the P990i will work with cingular, because the P910i works and i live in CA!

[panikfan @ Feb 10th 2006 3:58PM]

The phone will work with any provider that uses sim cards, but this wait is getting ridiculous. I have a W800 that my wife is going to take once I get the P990, if they ever release it...

[wayne @ Feb 11th 2006 8:20PM]

It would be great if they could build in gps - as i always get lost and this feature would be a true help.

[BC @ Feb 13th 2006 11:18AM]

Unbelieveable! My P800 is barely holding on as it is. I don't think it'll make it til mid-summer. I'm on Cingular now but will be switching when (if) I get this phone. Anyone have any good suggestions for a good service provider in the midwest?

[Mase @ Feb 17th 2006 7:22PM]

I just came from Europe with a Motorola A925 and I did not have any problems with it. The p990i, the i means europe it will not have problems here in the us. The only problem you will have is if you live in timbuckto and your current provider only supports 900. Cingular is waiting to launch there nationwide 3G coverage so that is what I am waiting for becuase my phone has it. I understand some cities already have this technology, lucky bastids.

[Diego @ Feb 19th 2006 5:44PM]

I think this is the best now, getting a hard competition with nokia.
But, do u know how much this phone will be? and how much will be the Nikia N91?
Some 1 know if it will be release in Mexico and when?
Cuz now im in Mexico and think i will have to buy it in us.

[Wood56 @ Feb 27th 2006 3:59AM]

outstanding.. can anyone tell what the price going for??????

[Khalil @ Mar 24th 2006 8:54AM]

Does anyone know what the price will be? And also I was told that it will be called the p990a for North America and p990c for China, where then does the p990i fit in??

[Choduk @ Apr 10th 2006 4:12PM]

Does anyone notice the SCREEN? I bought my P910 for the screen real estate... I do like that they are back lighting the keyboard (Badly needed) but keep the old screen size... I'll keep my 910 thank you... I hear WiFi is a battery hog anyhow...

[sleis @ May 11th 2006 12:26PM]

p990"i" stands for europe, price here should be about 700 Euro.

Any body knows if there will (or is) a sip application for this phone ?