Sony Ericsson K660

The Internet literally at the palm of your hands! This new offering from Sony Ericsson, the K660, is designed to be a fully functional mobile Web browser that would make Internet surfing as convenient and simple as browsing on your personal computer. In today's web based fast paced lifestyle where everyone is constantly on the go and depend on web based applications for their daily schedules and routines, the K660 provides a viable option as a mobile Web browser. The K660 which was developed using Sony Ericsson's Java Platform 8 (JP-8) and supports Mobile Services Architecture (MSA) JSR 248, touted as the next step to the Java umbrella standard offers the user HDSPA mobile broadband connection experience. HDSPA offers download speeds that are four folds faster than any regular 3G connection.

Sony Ericsson is targeting the Web Generation with the K660 by providing then a rich, satisfying and user friendly web browsing experience. With the growing number of people arranging their lives around web based services, the development of the K660 is truly a step in the right direction of making the mobile phone a more functional and responsive tool for those who manage their lifestyle and social networks over the Internet. The compact 3G, HSDPA enabled K660 which comes in a web optimized candybar from measures 104mm x 47mm x 15mm and weighs in at 95 grams. This feature packed mobile web browser phone is available in two eye catching colors, wine on black and lime on white, which are both modern and trendy.

Some of the powerful and innovative features that come with the Sony Ericsson K660 are its support for UMTS, HSDPA 2100, GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900 and EDGE network band frequencies. 3G and EDGE with HSDPA allows for faster data transfer which will give the user an almost no waiting time broadband-like surfing experience. A technological innovation is the incorporation of shortcut keys that illuminate when the user is actively surfing the Internet, the introduction of the magnetic mouse pointer, where the navigation keys of the mobile phone acts as a personal computer mouse which allows the user to navigate the Internet and indicate which parts of the web page can be clicked or where input of text is allowed, it also has the functionality of zooming in on images or text, when the mobile phone is in web mode and desktop tickers that gives the user regular updates from his favorite Internet sites.

Landscape browsing, picture and video blogging, IM client, pan and zoom, and support for mobile e-mail are other very important features found on the K660 which can be activated by the user mostly just by the touch of a button just like you are surfing the Internet inSony Ericsson K660 - 2 front of your personal computer. Mobile Internet browsing experience will never be the same with the Bookmark function, single button interface that takes you to your Home Page and a shortcut that allows you to enter a valid Internet address all purposely designed to guide the user and make Internet access faster.

The landscape browsing function is very helpful in browsing some web sites especially when accessing one of the special features included in the Sony Ericsson K660, Google Maps for Mobile. This handy web application helps you to navigate different places with your K660 by having access to interactive maps that you can zoom out or zoom in or even allows you to pan in whichever direction or orientation you please. The instant access to maps allows you to enter your actual location and where is your destination and from this information, it will send you a point-to-point direction how to get there. The Google Maps for Mobile comes pre-installed with the Sony Ericsson K660. The K660 utilizes the NetFront web browser which gives users added functionality and easier navigation by providing instant access to RSS feeds and other updates without the need of opening the web browser.

The browsing experience is further enhanced with the incorporation of a two inch QVGA screen that can display 262k colors. Of course an expected component of the Sony Ericsson K660 is the inclusion of a digital camera. The compact frame of the K660 accommodates a 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and video recording capabilities. It also incorporates a second camera on the front panel designed for making video calls. And because the K660 is designed a quick access mobile Internet browser phone, after capturing those pictures and videos of your unforgettable adventures, you can immediately upload them to your blogsite, favorite social networks or send them directly to your family and friends ensuring that they are constantly updated of your activities. Despite being bombarded with a number of web applications and Internet friendly features, the Sony Ericsson K660 can also bring satisfaction to the regular mobile phone user.

The K660 also boasts of an integrated FM Radio tuner, sound recorder, video streaming capabilities, Stereo Bluetooth that supports A2DP and Speakerphone. The k660 has an internal memory size of 32Mb and comes outfitted with a memory slot that can accommodate a Sony Memory Stick Micro format memory card with a maximum capacity of 4 GB. The user can have additional enjoyment for his music with the packaged HPM-62 stereo headset. The 256Mb Memory Stick Micro included in the sales package of the Sony Ericsson K660 allows the user to save all his favorite music and picture files. The user has the option to purchase the Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Headset HBH-PV703 which automatically connects to the K600 by auto-pairing for that wireless satisfaction.

Summary of Sony Ericsson K660 Features

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Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 + HSDPA
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Dimensions: 104mm x 47mm x 15mm, 95g (with battery in compartment)
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Display Type: 2-inch TFT 240 x 320 px, 262k colors
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Memory: 32Mb (internal), Expandable 256Mb M2 (included), 4Gb (Expandable limit)
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Camera: 2MP 1600 x 1200 px, Video, Secondary CIF 640 x 480 px for Video calls
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Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, Vibrate
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Connectivity: GPRS, 3G, Modem, Bluetooth, USB, WAP, Browser, E-mail
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Other Features: SMS, MMS, Java games and applications, Clock, Alarm, T9, FM Radio, Voice Memo, Calculator
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Battery: Li-Po (9 hours talk time, 330 hours standby)

PROS: The Sony Ericsson K660 lives up to its hype as the mobile Internet browser phone by packing it with useful and functional web based applications and integrating in the design useful shortcuts to make mobile web browsing easier and more enjoyable. Innovations such as magnetic mouse pointer, pan and zoom, Google maps, landscape browsing, lightning fast Internet connection speeds, illuminated and dedicated shortcut keys all make the K660 a very desirable phone for the Web Generation.

CONS: Although the K660 has succeeded in incorporating innovations in its designed that will give the user a satisfying and gratifying mobile web browsing experience, there are some minor additions that can increase its market value. Sony Ericsson could have included GPS capability to work in combination with Google maps. Also the 2MP camera does not have an autofocus function which could be very useful for mobile users. And lastly, they could have considered that the packaged 256Mb M2 memory stick is simply too small for such a power packed mobile phone.

Overall: The Sony Ericsson K-series of mobile phones is developed primarily to address the growing Web Generation market whose lives evolve primarily on the Internet and web based applications. The K660 is a very welcome development and addition to the K-series family especially with the inclusion of innovative designs and features. The K660 although geared for the more web savvy market can also be a very useful mobile device for the average user. With the classy, modern and fashionable look combined with its innovative features, the K600 will surely turn a lot of heads on the mobile phone