Sony Ericsson's SO903iTV Bravia mobile gets real

Don't you love it when the rumor mill actually produces some realizable results? While just about everyone had their doubts about the so-called "Bravia phone" that was supposedly coming down the pike, it looks like Sony, er, Sony Ericsson's SO903iTV will be the first handset to get the proper Bravia treatment. Aside from sporting a stylish red shell, landscape orientation, 3-inch widescreen display, and about every Sony-owned logo you can imagine, this mobile also gets a built-in TV tuner with "time-shift video recording." You'll also find a two-megapixel CMOS camera and a microSD card for loading up your media, but unfortunately for most of the world, we'll never get to touch it. Currently, the phone is set to launch solely on Japan's NTT DoCoMo, but given enough time, Sony might warm up to other markets in the future. Click on through for another shot.

[Smeagol @ Jan 19th 2007 11:26AM]

ahh .. ok, its a flip phone with a 3inch widescreen lcd. Thats going to be one gimongous phone.

[josh989 @ Jan 19th 2007 11:38AM]

If it's going to be that big, they might as well build in a blu-ray player as well

[hesh @ Jan 19th 2007 11:39AM]

It looks like a clamshell where the screen can rotate, like a tablet pc or the old Sony Clie design.

[Jamie @ Jan 19th 2007 12:52PM]

MicroSD?! Have Sony finally seen sense, or is that a typo?

As much as I love SE phones, their memory's ridiculously expensive.

[Richard @ Jan 19th 2007 12:57PM]

GOD!

When are these guys - who make (IMHO) the world's best phones - going to create something cool that will work here in 'merica?

[Stephen @ Jan 19th 2007 1:12PM]

A microSD card? No way?

[nigel @ Jan 19th 2007 1:34PM]

screw apple, i want this

[3rdsun @ Jan 19th 2007 2:11PM]

I saw these Bravia phones weeks ago. Sony seems to be ditching their memory card format at last. If the rumours continue to be true i can't wait for the PSP phone.

[Jeff @ Jan 19th 2007 3:06PM]

"It looks like a clamshell where the screen can rotate, like a tablet pc or the old Sony Clie design."

It is. This is a fairly common feature on Japanese phones.

btw, there are also Aquos phones in Japan. Seems like all the big TV makers are now trying to get their brand names on phone screens.

"Thats going to be one gimongous phone."

Most Japanese phones are quite large by western standards. They've accepted the tradeoff of size for features. These are not disposable gadgets that you carry around in your pocket.

It didn't used to be that way, but things started shifting around 6-7 years ago. Japanese phones used to be extremely small, but nowadays the average Japanese phone is probably twice as volumous as the average US phone. The trend has been to add more features and better the specs, not make the phones smaller or thinner. Pretty much the opposite of here.

[katana @ Jan 19th 2007 3:13PM]

Japanese phones are often "tall"/long, but thin. And, gorgeous.

I want to sleep with this phone.. it's hot!!!!!

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 19th 2007 3:50PM]

OMG, this is phone for REAL? This is the best looking phone i ever saw, and it fit in my living room just fine, it'a Bravia afterall. Way a go Sony, keep making those phone that works as a phone, a good phone. A phone that can watch TV, you heard that Apple? it's a phone and a TV in ONE. Try this idea called innovation sometime?

[Ben Drawbaugh @ Jan 19th 2007 3:53PM]

Even if they did sell it here, it would stop working when they shut off NTSC in 2009, or it would never work well if it supported ATSC.

[Castle @ Jan 19th 2007 4:07PM]

The Bravia phones are suppose to be using LCD's directly from Sony/Samsung SLCD factory that makes the Bravia HDTVs instead of using the cheaper LCDs that are in most mobile phones. Also, every new phone in Japan has to have a digital receiver

[steve-o @ Jan 19th 2007 4:17PM]

Don't buy it- BOYCOTT SONY!

[Castle @ Jan 19th 2007 4:22PM]

>>Don't buy it- BOYCOTT SONY!

You're an idiot

[Eh @ Jan 19th 2007 4:41PM]

Its official, the iphone wont be released in japan. If Apple tries to release the iphone in asia by 2008 its going to get laughed out of the market.

[Castle @ Jan 19th 2007 5:25PM]

>>When are these guys - who make (IMHO) the world's best phones - going to create something cool that will work here in 'merica?

It should be noted that NTT DoCoMo is changing their GSM signals to be 100% compatible with US GSM in the very near future. So expect newer Japanese phones like these to come to the US, they already have an agreement with AT&T.

http://www.uwcc.org/English/News_room/DisplayPressRelease.cfm?id=388&s=ENG

[kazamatsuri @ Jan 19th 2007 9:32PM]

There is so much wrong information here and in the comments, it's sad. First, this is not the first "Bravia phone". The first phone to use a Bravia screen was the SO903i, which came out in December. I know because I have one.

Second, yes, microSD. Previous Sony phones accepted either miniSD or MemoryStick Duo. This one is microSD only, it seems.

Third, it's not NTSC or ATSC, it receives 1seg broadcasts. Many phones here in Japan can view 1seg broadcasts.

Finally, phones are not required to receive tv broadcasts here. That's just ridiculous.

[gear @ Jan 20th 2007 1:23AM]

to Jeff

watch this
http://www.nttdocomo.com/features/fomaspring2007gallery/n703iu.html

[Ashley @ Jan 21st 2007 11:40PM]

Sony phones are kewl, but im going to keep my TV, cellphone, digital camera, and my DVR seperate. Though it is a nice design, catchy look, i dont think this phone will expand a whole lot but it doesnt look like it will be THAT big. Think of their digital cameras or old cell phones where you where carriering around a brick. (quite complaining.) I love this idea but I would never buy it.

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 27th 2007 4:01AM]

OMG, this is phone for REAL? This is the best looking phone i ever saw, and it fit in my living room just fine, it'a Bravia afterall. Way a go Sony, keep making those phone that works as a phone, a good phone. A phone that can watch TV, you heard that Apple? it's a phone and a TV in ONE. Try this idea called innovation sometime?