The first new product for 2004 is the T630 mobile phone. This unit will be available exclusively from T-Mobile in their European markets starting next month. It is basically an update to the T610 with a more vibrant screen and a different back design that gives the back a more “camera-like” appearance. I specifically asked if this was in response to the privacy concerns that have appeared in many places due to the proliferation of mobile phones with built-in cameras. However, SEM's Tony Greco did not believe that this was the motivation, and pointed out the availability of very small stand-alone cameras. Of course, it's harder to claim you were simply making a phone call if you are caught with a digital camera that is not also a phone. Near the lens on the back of the T630 is a small mirror used to compose "self portraits. While this may seem to be of limited value to the mobile professional, it is certainly an important feature for the target "hip youth" market that will often be using the camera to send pictures of themselves to their friends.

The next product was a pleasant surprise for me: The z600 has similar specs as the T630 but in a clamshell design with interchangeable front and back covers.  While the Asian market seems to have embraced the clamshell, in Europe, the vast majority seem to prefer the "candy bar" style that SEM uses for most of their mobile designs. In the USA the market is about evenly split. With the introduction of the z600, SEM can now participate in the half that prefers not to have to constantly be locking and unlocking their phone keypad - and most importantly gives this market segment a sophisticated option with Bluetooth capability.

Sony-Ericsson also introduced a new a new Bluetooth car kit for hands-free operation. The HCB-30 hands-free kit can operate completely stand-alone, or together with the car's audio system both to mute the radio when a call comes in as well as to use the car's speakers. Multiple Bluetooth phones can be paired with the HCB-30, however, it automatically bonds with the first paired phone it sees. That could be an issue if you and your spouse both use Bluetooth enabled phones and are driving together. The car kit requires professional installation into the vehicle. 

SEM also produces a large number of Bluetooth accessories, including the HBH-200 headset (shown at the left) with a display for caller-ID. Since it supports both the headset and hands-free profiles, the HBH-200 should work with almost any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Other headsets, include the more conventionally styled HBH-65 and HBH-35. Then there is the HBM-30 combination Bluetooth headset and MP3 player.

As an aside, I talked to Sony-Ericsson about their re-entry into the CDMA world with the long awaited release of the T608 for Sprint. Sadly for the customers of Verizon and Sprint, it seems that this is not a sign of things to come. For now, SEMs official position is that they are out of the CDMA business in the USA and will focus on GSM/GPRS and their future including EDGE and eventually W-CDMA. Given all the cool phones and accessories coming out of the company, this could be a good reason to consider taking advantage of mobile number portability to take your business to a cellular provider that supports Bluetooth.

In the coming weeks we hope to be able to test a few of these products in order to give you a more in depth review.