Update on Updates

I’ve seen all your questions around the planned Android 2.1 update of the current XPERIA range. I really hear your eagerness and thirst for more information – and of course the update itself.

We have earlier given some information on what to expect from this update and said that the roll-out was planned to start late Q3.

The plan for the added features and Android 2.1 step-up still holds but unfortunately we need a couple of more weeks before we are ready to start the roll-out.

The revised plan is to start the roll-out from end of October and onwards.

We are of course not happy about the change of launch timing but we have had to spend some additional time on the software to really makes sure we roll-out with the right quality and user experience.

When it comes to what to expect from the updated software all three X10 models will be updated to Android 2.1 and the Xperia X10 will also get HD video recording with continuous auto focus among many other things.

The key changes for the different products are the following:

Xperia X10:

* HD video recording with continuous auto-focus for high quality videos
* Upgrade of the Android platform to Android 2.1
* New back up and restore application, with extended content back up
* 5 homescreens for apps, widgets, shortcuts and folders
* Social phonebook which automatically syncs contact pictures from Facebook and shows when your friends are online

Xperia X10 mini and X10 mini pro:

* Improved Bluetooth functionality with support for sending and receiving pictures, contacts and more
* New backup and restore application with extended content back up
* Automatic synchronization of your contact pictures between Facebook and your phone book
* Improved ways of handling pictures, audio, text and numbers in your messages
* Upgrade of the Android platform to Android platform 2.1

Over the coming weeks we will here on the product blog keep you updated with visual and video examples on what your phone will look like and be able to do after the update!

I’d also like to highlight that the update will be made available in a phased roll-out which means that different “kits” get the update at different times. It will take some additional weeks from end of October before all different kits have the new software available.

What we mean by a “kit” is a different configuration, i.e. colour of the phone, bundled accessories but most importantly in this case different software configurations.

The difference in software between different kits is mainly related to included languages, settings, applications etc – all this to comply with different legal and operator requirements.

A software upgrade roll-out is similar to a normal product launch, i.e. we roll out the products in a phased manner as the kits are completed. This is due to global and local type approvals and network testing and the same apply for a software upgrade.

From the end of October you will be able to follow availability of the new software on a market by market basis here on the blog.

I will keep you posted with more information and details as we go along.