Rumor: Sony Ericsson may launch Android phone

Sony Ericsson may be introducing a new phone based on Google's Android platform at a special product launch event its is planning for Nov. 3. The phone, which has been rumored for months, has variously been called the Xperia 10 or X3, and is believed to be running a new user interface from Sony Ericsson, called Rachel. The user interface is thought to be similar to HTC's Sense UI.

A teaser Sony Ericsson website reads: "We're looking forward to Nov. 3rd. We think you should be too."

Sony Ericsson has said that it will launch its first Android phone on Android 2.0. Verizon Wireless is set to announce the Motorola Droid today, which will run on Android 2.0. Google announced yesterday that Android 2.0 will be added to the software development kit for Android. Contact and account management seem to have seen the majority of the updates. Multiple accounts can now be added to Android devices for email and contact synchronization, including optional Exchange support. Another added feature is called Quick Contact, which provides instant one-touch access to multiple ways of interacting with a contact including call, text and email.

Recently, Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg said that the company would be expanding its smartphone portfolio, which has led to speculation about how many platforms the company can support (Sony Ericsson has offered Windows Mobile and Symbian phones, as well as those running its proprietary OS).

For more:
- see this Sony Ericsson teaser page
- see this Engadget post
- see this Slashgear post
- see this Gearlog post

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