NEWS / SMARTPHONES

Sony Xperia ion to ship with SmartTags

| by Roydon Cerejo | Smartphones

We first saw Sony’s flagship Xperia, the ion, back at CES 2012 and after all this time, the phone will finally hit the U.S with AT&T for a contract price of $99 (Rs. 5,500). The phone will also support SmartTags, Sony’s name for programmable NFC chips. While there’s still no word on when Sony will launch it internationally, we suspect it shouldn't be too long before an official announcement. When the phone was announced,  Paul Hamnett, President, Sony Mobile Communcations had said, “With Xperia ion, we’re bringing together several firsts that will take users beyond the smartphone. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across the multiple screens we use to play, watch, listen, and share, Xperia ion is the gateway to entertainment when and – most importantly – where you want it.

First Sony branded handset announced

Finally hitting retail!

 


While this may be Sony’s flagship offering, it’s not the most powerful smartphone in the market when you compare it to other quad-core beasts. It does have some really stand out features, however like a 4.6-inch display, the ability to access to Sony services, like Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited as well as being a PlayStation certified handset. It will also pack in the same Xperia S camera sensor, which we really loved. The ion also differs from the rest of the handsets from their NXT range in design, as it lacks the translucent strip at the bottom. It seems like all major handsets makers are really pushing for NFC. Nokia was the first to take the lead, recently followed by Samsung and their TecTiles. The idea behind the tags is that you can program them to perform any function you want. For instance, if you have the habit of putting you phone on silent before going to bed or switching GPS  and Wi-Fi off, you simply program the tag to perform these tasks and place it you nightstand, so every time you place your phone on the tag, the function is initiated.

Here are some of the specifications of the Xperia ion:

  • 4.6-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution
  • 3G, EDGE/GPRS and Wi-Fi capabilities for net access
  • GPS with A-GPS support for Google Maps
  • Bluetooth with A2DP and USB 2.0 (Micro)
  • 12MP camera with LED flash and secondary camera up front
  • FM radio
  • 16GB internal + microSD card support for up to 32GB more memory

Tags: Sony Xperia ion , Sony Xperia ion price , Sony Xperia ion launch date , Sony Xperia ion price in India , Sony Xperia ion launch date in India , Sony Xperia ion release date in India , Sony Xperia ion India release , Sony Xperia ion Indian release date , Sony Xperia ion announced , Sony Xperia ion unveiled , Sony Xperia ion CES , Sony Xperia ion PlayStation , Sony Xperia ion features , Sony Xperia ion specs , Sony Xperia ion specifications

 


SPOTLIGHT

Micromax A110Q Canvas 2 Plus: A Specifications Review

Micromax A110Q Canvas 2 Plus: A Specifications Review

Apart from having a long name, there are some other interesting features...

By Shunal Doke

6 Things to look for when buying a 'future-proof' smartphone

6 Things to look for when buying a 'future-proof' smartphone

If you’re out looking for a new smartphone, then there are a couple of...

By Roydon Cerejo

Smartphone launches this week: May 13-17

Smartphone launches this week: May 13-17

In the hustle-bustle of everyday life, you might have missed the launch of

By Nikhil Subramaniam

MORE FEATURES

Nokia Lumia 720 Review

Nokia Lumia 720 Review

21 May, 2013, 01:00 PM IST

 7.0

We’ve already established that the Lumia 720 is Nokia’s best effort as far as Windows Phone 8 handsets go. This could soon change once the Lumia 925 hits markets, but as it stands now, the Lumia 720 offers the best blend of features and performance, wrapped in a beautiful package that’s quite affordable.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

LAVA iris 455 Review

Lenovo S890 Review

Nokia Lumia 520 Review

Sony Xperia E Dual Review

MORE REVIEWS