Handango newsletter reveals mid-September launch for XPERIA X1

While we're sure there's at least a few folks that'll be pleased to hear that Sony Ericsson's eagerly-anticipated XPERIA X1 will launch with Handango's InHand service on the device, we're guessing there's a tad more people that'll be interested in the other little detail revealed in the company's recent newsletter: that the X1 will apparently be launching in mid-September. Of course, we'll still have to wait to hear from Sony Ericsson to know for sure, especially given some of the launch date confusion in the past, but this latest word is at least in line with the company's most recent statement that the X1 launching in the second half of 2008, so it might not be such a crazy idea to start counting down the days.

[miko34 @ May 2nd 2008 1:12PM]

If this is the same price as the 3G iPhone, I'll buy this. But if the iPhone is supposed to go toward the $199-$299 range (as rumors suggest), I may have to consider that instead. I do like the proposed battery life on the Xperia though.

[Ysleiro @ May 2nd 2008 1:27PM]

I'm also afraid of what this things price is going to be. I went to the Sony-Style store the other day and they had some normal looking phone there for like 500 !!

I told my self "crap if thats how much that bland phone costs imagine X1!".

[holycow @ May 2nd 2008 2:13PM]

they're for 500$ coz they're unlocked. If the iPhone was unlocked i would imagine it to cost around 800$ at least.

[Cassini @ May 2nd 2008 6:34PM]

The Xperia X1 is slated to sell for around $1000 USD (maybe a shade under) unlocked.

Very nice phone, but VERY expensive.

I also still cannot understand why they don't indicate what kind of GPS hardware is in this thing. For that kind of money, unsubsidized or not, the GPS better rock.

[Sukhminder @ May 3rd 2008 6:57AM]

$800+ is realistic. Take a look at the TYTN II when it first came out, it retailed (unbranded) for over $800. This is a much better phone too, so expect a premium.

[Dan Davis @ May 2nd 2008 1:17PM]

YES! I am on this like white on rice in a snowstorm! I don't care if it's going to run WinMo I WANT, nay NEED, this freakin' phone!

Any chance it's coming to T-Mobile? If not, I am prepared to opt out of my contract!

[Ysleiro @ May 2nd 2008 1:25PM]

I got my fingers crossed right along with you buddy.

I hope this phone comes out with contracts for T-mo because I got a feeling the price won't be nothing nice.

I just wish T-Mo would wrap 3G up already !!

[alexmueller @ May 2nd 2008 1:55PM]

you could buy it unlocked, granted it would cost more

[Cagrino @ May 2nd 2008 2:05PM]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but T-Mobile's record of delivering high end WinMo phones is atrocious.

That combined with the poor coverage they have in my area and the many unfulfilled promises of better coverage improvements, finally convinced me to leave and go to AT&T about 2 years ago.

Now the only thing I regret is not leaving earlier. If their 3G rollout is any indication, things have not improved at T-Mobile.

[ScOObyDoo @ May 2nd 2008 1:18PM]

I'm not sure I'd consider Handango to be a reliable source of a product release date, don't get me wrong; I HOPE it's correct, but I have my doubts.

[Jason @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

Ah another wonderous piece of technology VZW will never have.... I CURSE YOU CDMA!!!!!

[Jim @ May 2nd 2008 1:31PM]

This is ridiculous. I guess I'm getting the 3G iPhone. There's no point in waiting that long for the XPERIA, it will be obsolete and outdated by then.

Damn you Sony Ericsson!

[Dan Davis @ May 2nd 2008 1:35PM]

Be strong, my brother! It's only 4 months away!

Next stop, buyer's remorse.

[lUp @ May 3rd 2008 4:44AM]

hmm.. rumor has it, that the 3G iPhone is coming out in something like mid-june. So... mid-september is like 2 months later. The iPhone will most likely not have a new highres screen (while this one carries 800x400 px), still no keyboard and (maybe I'm wrong with this assumption) still no multitasking (so choose either navigation OR listening to music ^^). All the other specs are identically.

[austin @ May 3rd 2008 11:09AM]

you CAN listen to music while doing other things on an iphone. you obviously dont own one

[James Cameron @ May 2nd 2008 1:37PM]

September? FAILED! If the iphone 2 is coming out before this, I might just bite the bullet even if it doesn't have a FM radio on it.

I say release the damn phone early and give us a firmware upgrade along the way. I can live with a few bugs and a minimum options for the time being. I've been waiting for a year now to upgrade from my SE W800i.

[fred @ May 2nd 2008 2:31PM]

What is this, the place where logic goes to die?

So a phone is released a month or two after another, that means it's not worth buying?

[Johan S @ May 2nd 2008 2:11PM]

September? What fools. And, it's probably going to be overpriced. LOL

[austin @ May 3rd 2008 11:10AM]

but it has a great screen resolution. right up your alley.

[Ian @ May 2nd 2008 2:31PM]

even if this thing is under the projected $900 price tag it is still running on wm6. I just hope all this hype and development time will lead to a decent running product. I would buy the iphone in a second if it had enterprise email, any chance apple will ever break through on that?

[Vidit Bhargava @ May 2nd 2008 2:32PM]

it is going to be pricey guys...when iphone 16gig is $499...with features only if u install them...imagine how much this would be...loaded with everything you can imagine. its coming to AT&T as indicated on engadget...with AT&T this myt come loaded with PTT too...its better wait for X1 rather than going for 3G iphone in about a month...u'll get lot of extra and cool features with this one...i would wait for this and wish it really comes to AT&T.

[BlowURmindBowel @ May 2nd 2008 2:47PM]

Based on the article I read, it was VERY poorly supported that it is going to AT&T. It was basically just an AT&T icon on an SE demo phone, hardly confirmation.

Although, you may be speaking of a different article, I hope it's not true either way Ma Bell can lick my purple happy starfish! :P*

[haX0r @ May 2nd 2008 3:13PM]

We'll see what happens and when. In the meantime, let's just check out all the phones that launch between now and then on all carriers and see how buggy they are....

[Sam Zebian @ May 2nd 2008 3:25PM]

I can NOT wait for this phone... But I guess I'll have to like everyone else... I'll be pretty happy with my AT&T tilt for now, but a phone without video drivers can suck sometimes...

[Cassini @ May 2nd 2008 6:44PM]

I don't know if there's more to the story, but I read recently that the X1 was falling prey to the same video driver issues that the Tilt was.

[Sam Zebian @ May 2nd 2008 7:40PM]

I've heard of that, but the product is still a prototype... maybe they're using this time to finalize the hardware, produce enough units, finish the software and then install the software (including drivers) onto the already assembled phones in the factory, and they may plan on selling a LOT of these phones, so they'll probably be producing 'em like crazy... That and the licensing agreements worldwide to take place, then they could sell the phone in mid-September. They still have plenty of time for drivers.

[Greg @ May 2nd 2008 3:49PM]

As a previous Handango employee, I can say they usually do have a firm grasp on when a device is launched as they work closely with the partners and the carriers to make sure there is content available during the launch.

[ricosuave @ May 2nd 2008 5:13PM]

any chance the x1 is coming to sprint?

[Nirvan @ May 2nd 2008 6:42PM]

No.

(well... maybe, but I HIGHLY doubt it)

sorry...

[Middle Path @ May 2nd 2008 6:12PM]

Only known for unjustly slaughtering innocent people and destabalising the Middle East.

[Paul @ May 3rd 2008 1:45AM]

Hmm that is tempting

[deasine @ May 3rd 2008 3:37AM]

The rumor with it being $1000+ is fake. No the phone will go up to that price. That's crazy. I can see it for around $700-$900.

The iPhone Unlocked version is still priced at $680 right now [retail price].