Sony Ericsson P1 Review

Sony Ericsson is one of the brands behind Symbian OS which is used in the manufacturer’s smartphones, and all of them, since the first P800 back in 2002, have touch sensitive displays and use the UIQ interface to control it. This combination of OS-UI has been also used by other manufacturers in the past (Motorola, Benq, Arima) but nowadays the only recently announced non-Sony Ericsson phone with UIQ is the Motorola Z8, which uses non-touch version of the UI that doesn’t have much in common with the one for phones with touch-sensitive displays. Both Symbian and UIQ have been progressing, and the P1 model we are currently reviewing is using Symbian 9.1 and UIQ 3.0, which is the latest combination used in Sony Ericsson phones. The same version is also found in the W960 Walkman and in previous models like P990, M600 and W950. This means the P1 doesn’t bring new OS or UI and should be fully compatible with applications, developed for earlier phones of the brand.

Sony Ericsson P1 comes as a replacement of two earlier models, combining their lines in one. The form-factor reminds us of the M600 with the relatively slim profile and hybrid QWERTY keyboard, but the design is more oriented to the business customers, like the P990. The M600 gets its upgrade with WiFi and camera and the P990 gets slimmer and sexier upgrade. The model name is rather strange solution but also logical one. Earlier P-series smartphones were with model numbers P800-P900-P910-P990 and the logical next model should be P1000 (or higher) but it seems that Sony Ericsson don’t want that long name and removed the zeros, naming the new phone P1. The P1, being first, also puts the new beginning of the united P and M series.

The retail box of the P1 comes with the following content:

• P1 with battery and extra stylus
  Pouch for carrying the phone
  AC charger
  USB cable
  Charging and syncing cradle
  Stereo Headphones
  CD with software and manuals

The pouch is made from soft material in black and the phone fits tightly in it. It is not designed to be attached to a belt, but to be carried in the pocket.The Syncing cradle is model CDS-65 and in addition to the phone put on it, it can be connected simultaneously to charger, USB cable and headphones (or other music device) which allows you to use your phone as it syncs or charges, stylishly lying in the cradle. If the cradle is connected to the AC charger, it will constantly glow in signal-green around the connector for the phone. The P1 itself, has similar small LED next to the connector socket, and when it is connected to a charging accessory starts glowing in yellow.