Sony Ericsson Aspen Windows Mobile 6.5.3 phone photos released

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is near, and look what we have got here!

Photo: Sony Ericsson Aspen, first WinMo 6.5.3 phone?

The new Sony Ericsson Aspen is the first Windows Mobile 6.5.3 phone to have made an appearance. Actual launch is a bit far away, however. (I think there was a Toshiba too recently… but who knows?) We like its business phone looks you can see in the photos here – but its hardly drool-worthy.

Signs of the approaching Windows Phone 7, eh?

Quite funnily, the first phone we get to see that runs Windows Mobile 6.5.3 is not a full touchscreen device but a QWERTY phone with a smallish touchscreen. There is another name for the Aspen being bandied about – the Faith. We have no idea what the final name would be, though.

The Sony Ericsson Aspen is a clean-looking business phone, very similar to a solid Blackberry in its looks.

The Aspen comes packing a 2.4 inch QVGA touchscreen, 3.2 MP camera, WiFI, GPS and all the normal goodies you expect in a phone in this class.

Photo: 3.2 camera of Sony Ericsson Aspen

Windows Phone 7, or the so-called WIndows Mobile 7, mobile OS from Microsoft is expected to make its appearance at the upcoming Mobile World Congress.

Windows Mobile 6.5.3 is a more touch-optimized version of the Windows Mobile OS – almost gettid rid of the need to use a stylus as was the case till now.

Some of the existing Windows Mobile 6.5 OS phones may get a free upgrade to the newer version that runs in the Aspen, but we think that would take some time anyway.

The Sony Ericsson Aspen is expected to hit the markets in Q2 2010.

Sony Ericsson Aspen – basic specs

Candybar style
Quad-band GSM/EDGE
Windows Mobile 6.5.3
2.4 inch, 240×320 QVGA display
WiFi
Bluetooth
3.2 MP camera
Stereo speakers
3.5mm headset jack
microUSB port
Front facing QWERTY keyboard
microSD card slot with 4GB card
Dimensions: 4.61 x 2.36 x 0.49 inches and 4.58 ounces

As much as we wish the Windows Mobile 6.5.3 a good run, we are a bit disappointed that it has made an appearance in this business-like phone. A large-ish touchscreen would have told us a lot more about the improvements – and the ability – of MS to recover in the smartphone market.

No information on the price and exact launch date of the Sony Ericsson Aspen is available so far. It looks solid and tough in the the photos – that’s the best we can say so far.