Sony Ericsson moves mobile closer to audio

News

Tim Green Oct 18 2005, 10:00am

The audio snobs will be impressed - Sony Ericsson has revealed a cradle speaker system for its Walkman phone range. This kind of accessory is familiar to iPod users, but a first for mobiles.

The new accessory - the Home Audio System MDS-70 - is the fruit of a collaboration between Sony Ericsson and Sony Corporation. According to SE, many more will follow. The device will be sold by both phone and consumer electronics retailers.

The speaker system is the latest attempt by SE to blur the boundaries between phones and dedicated music devices. The company also announced the MMR-60 FM Music Transmitter which beams music files to an FM radio - another accessory popular with iPod users.

This activity is illegal in some countries so the extra will not be launched everywhere.

SE unveiled the products alongside its new W900 handset - the first 3G Walkman phone - which brings the Walkman range to four. Although SE declined to give numbers, it confirmed that the W800 launch phone had exceeded expectations and contributed much to its record 13.8m units shipped and 104m euro profit in Q3 2005.