Sony Ericsson hand delivers 8.1MP C905a and W518a Walkman to AT&T

While one could argue that Sony Ericsson should really be focusing its efforts on getting a Rachael / Android-based handset out on the double, it's evidently content with digging up a year-old phone, slapping an "a" on the end of it and passing it along to AT&T. The 8.1 megapixel C905 that we were so jazzed about in June of 2008 has indeed been certified for AT&T as the C905a Cyber-shot (left and center), offering the same 8.1 megapixel sensor, face detection, AutoFocus, Xenon flash, GPS tagging and 3G support. In related news, SE is also offering up the 518a Walkman (shown right) on the same carrier, which features a 3.2 megapixel camera, an obsession with Facebook, Shake Control and OTA music downloads from Napster and eMusic via AT&T Music. Both sets will be available on July 19th for $179.99 and $49.99 (respectively) after mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement, which sounds "way too high" and "too high" to us (also respectively).

[Teslanaut @ Jul 15th 2009 10:46AM]

So is it a Phone with a Camera or a Camera with a Phone?

[grydlok @ Jul 15th 2009 10:48AM]

it's still ugly.

[Arkadinho @ Jul 15th 2009 10:49AM]

That is one hell of an ugly phone.

[joaquindel @ Jul 15th 2009 11:10AM]

Really? I always like Sony Ericsson's design.
These look better than usual for dumbphones.

[zephxiii @ Jul 15th 2009 11:20AM]

I like the look, its kinda industrial.

[KIFF @ Jul 15th 2009 11:34AM]

Look is fine, but the at&t logo ruins it. The other colour scheme looks better too. It is still a good phone despite being released so late over there.

[John Doe @ Jul 15th 2009 10:53AM]

Why does it seem TOO HIGH to you guys? 179.99 for an 8mp camera (with geotagging) phone which does 3G and aGPS (with wayfinder software pre-installed) as well...AT&T might take wayfinder off and put its own software.

[Darren @ Jul 15th 2009 10:53AM]

It's a year old, homie.

[Teslanaut @ Jul 15th 2009 10:57AM]

Both sets will be available on July 19th for $179.99 and $49.99 (respectively) --->after mail-in rebate and a two-year agreement

[Burns11 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:08AM]

It makes it more expensive than a lot of phones on ATT, including much more capable phones like the EX71, iPhone 3g, Xenon, Impression, etc. An 8.1 mp camera is really nice and all, but $180 is too much for such a (really) one trick pony.

[GB @ Jul 15th 2009 11:11AM]

@Darren:
Old wine is expensive as well..! ;)

[zephxiii @ Jul 15th 2009 11:20AM]

Non of the other phones offer 8.1mp with Xenon flash either.

[sr @ Jul 15th 2009 11:35AM]

Those come with expensive $30 data plans mandatory.

[Lynchenstein @ Jul 15th 2009 11:52AM]

So what if it's a year old? The specs are still respectible and the price is reasonable. I think the editors are caught up in the "if it ain't new then it must suck" mindset.

[John Doe @ Jul 15th 2009 1:39PM]

Yeah...even after a year...the price on iphone was the same (and will be the same). Only after the launch of 3GS, the price of 3G was dropped. While the price on other phones comes down with time, iPhones have the same price tag after a year.

[zephxiii @ Jul 15th 2009 11:01AM]

8.1mp and Xenon flash...nice...if debrandable, imap email with imap idle, google maps with GPS and other goodies!

[synn @ Jul 15th 2009 11:04AM]

"While one could argue that Sony Ericsson should really be focusing its efforts on getting a Rachael / Android-based handset out on the double, "

Prove that they aren't.
Yeah, didn't think so.

[Teslanaut @ Jul 15th 2009 11:14AM]

Prove that they are? Leaving yourself open like that. :)

[synn @ Jul 15th 2009 11:34AM]

They are, because if they weren't, you wouldn't see the leaked images and the UI video. You DID see those, didn't you?

Anyway, anyone who knows the slightest bit about the industry knows that the Rachael(or any SE Android handset, for that matter) uses Android 2.0 and won't be out until the latter is announced. Alas, Engadget's knowhow in the said field leaves a lot to be desired.

[pika2000 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:16AM]

Oh damn you Sony Ericsson, why can't you also sell the damn thing unlocked straight from yourself? And where's the C903a?

[sr @ Jul 15th 2009 11:35AM]

There are dozens of stores that do. Just Google it.

[pika2000 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:39AM]

@sr: Most places that sells C905 are international version, without the 850band for 3G with AT&T nor US warranty.

[Jacob Harvey @ Jul 15th 2009 12:02PM]

I almost bought one of those international models. Thankfully the vendor dropped the ball and I got irritated I simply canceled. ;-)

The C905a HAS been showing up but it's still considered a preorder. Perhaps with a little more patience it'll be out unlocked soon. Me? I need a new quad band phone now, so I picked up an N85 and I'll wait and see what happens with Rachael, etc.

[aj121489 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:17AM]

Whoaho, ONE WHOLE YEAR, that's SO old. I know we're talking electronics, which get outdated quickly, but I really don't feel like this is that bad considering it seems to take pretty good stills and it's almost half the price of the unlocked version that I've seen (from the quick Google search, I really didn't look that hard)

[pika2000 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:39AM]

LOL, yeah you're right. The state of cellphones in the US is just sad.

[Daniel @ Jul 15th 2009 11:44AM]

As AT&T doesn't support Android, I'd much rather SE work on getting the Satio out on the double.

[zephxiii @ Jul 15th 2009 11:52AM]

At the same time, SE needs to move products to large carriers to stay afloat so they can work on that Saito. C905 had already been out in production, so it didn't take much resources to carrier tame it.

[Al @ Jul 15th 2009 3:41PM]

We wont see the Satio on AT&T until 2012. Plus AT&T will cripple it to death.

[Daniel @ Jul 15th 2009 5:45PM]

Both you guys make very valid points.

I certainly hope the 2012 timeframe is wrong though, but this is SE we're talking about.

[sova @ Jul 15th 2009 11:57AM]

Wheres the wifi!? SE's site nor AT&T's material mention it...

AGH... crippled phones

Makes me consider buying an unlocked one just to keep it, unless it can be firmware unlocked.

wifi > 3g, esp when you're on a college campus blanketed in wifi wherever you go.

[Krazyskier @ Jul 15th 2009 12:16PM]

According to a bunch of phone sites it has wi-fi

http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Sony-Ericsson-C905a-phone-p_3579.html

[sova @ Jul 15th 2009 12:32PM]

yeah, those were based on the c905 though not the a variant

but I found this http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/07/09/sony-ericsson-c905a-hitting-att-july-19th/
that supports +wifi so I'm happy. lol.

Also, the shot in the post also still has the front-facing video camera, at&t video share?

[Chan @ Jul 15th 2009 12:43PM]

I've been reading reviews on it, and it seems overall decent other than the poor video recording. (QVGA while others cameraphones can do VGA), also the damn fastport. I'd consider buying it at $129.

[callum @ Jul 15th 2009 12:48PM]

Well i had it. Its got wifi. and is a good phone. shame it has all that a.t logo crap on it.


I bought this phone with me from england to new york when over there. most of you guys where like wow i havent heard of that.

Its a good lil phone. i switched to a buisness E71 though.

[JohnTech @ Jul 16th 2009 11:59PM]

Sony has a habit of announcing things too early or having problems along the way to delay things

[callum @ Jul 16th 2009 6:36AM]

What are you on about john tech ? Ive had this phone almost a year now ? how is it sonys fault your carries have only just got it ?

[lavender_lilac87 @ Jul 16th 2009 8:54AM]

It looks great although it might not be the best of all.

[corey malone @ Jul 22nd 2009 1:18PM]

i bought the c905a flashed it with a generic software and the wifi works. i guess ATT just disabled it. greedy bastards.