Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1a now available at SonyStyle

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 6th 2009 at 11:46AM

It's been tough getting out of the starting gate for Sony Ericsson's X1a (that's the Americanized version of the X1), particularly when you realize that it was supposed to ship en masse way back on Black Friday of last year. Oh sure, a select few have managed to procure one of the QWERTY-packin' WinMo powerhouses, but we've heard far more complaints about "no stock" than tips on excess inventory. Now, however, SonyStyle.com has the handset listed as in stock, with an estimated ship date of tomorrow. Furthermore, UnwiredView is reporteding that many of Sony's retail locations are also well stocked with the unlocked smartphone. Of note, SonyStyle is offering up the X1a in silver, but there's always spray paint if you're lusting after a black model like the one we tried out.

[Via UnwiredView]

Filed under: Handsets, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Windows Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA

Tags: available, now available, now shipping, NowAvailable, NowShipping, ship, shipping, ships, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, us, usa, x1, x1a, xperia, xperia x1, xperia x1a, XperiaX1, XperiaX1a

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

satysfyn @ Jan 6th 2009 1:28PM

Im sorry, but $800 for a phone is the USA is just ridiculous. I understand that European buyers are used to higher, unsubsidized prices, but this is just outrageous for a mobile device.

Neutral

KilgoreTrout @ Jan 6th 2009 2:03PM

Particularly for THAT mobile device.
At the moment , at least in Europe where no G1 is available, the wise choice for a smartphone is still between the Samsung Omnia and the HTC touch HD.

Neutral

Brendon @ Jan 6th 2009 2:21PM

The phone is still way too expensive

Neutral

Kumar @ Jan 6th 2009 2:23PM

Agreed, price is ridiculous for the limitations of the US wireless market.

Overseas, you can shop for a phone, then find a provider. This X1a has exactly 1 network that it will work on in my area.

I wonder if they're now paying the price for not having t-mobile data compatibility? Or both AT&T and Tmob balked at what Sony wanted for the phone?

Neutral

DP @ Jan 6th 2009 5:33PM

In today's economy, you have to be crazy to spend $800 on a cell phone. We like to have all the latest tech on our cellphone but seldom need the extra features. I would rather use my laptop for the internet.
We are letting these small machines take over our lives and they are becoming more of a status symbol.
Just my 2 cents.

Neutral

SPOKE @ Jan 6th 2009 6:17PM

Hi, I am the new Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1a. On the other side of the street is my friend Poverty. Let's fuck.

Neutral

Nippero @ Jan 6th 2009 6:24PM

I have the X1i on tmobile and its been great so far.
Not having 3G does suck I guess, but with Opera Mini, I don't really notice the difference at all. EDGE works fine for everything else (instant messaging, checking email, google maps, etc).

And about the X1 not being a smart choice in Europe, thats not really true. Plenty of European carriers have the X1 for free to ~half price on contract.

I wouldnt really pay $799 for the X1a though, especially since it ends up being $866 after taxes.
Importing my X1i was cheaper (or at least not as expensive lol), ~$680 with $20 foreign transaction fee from citibank.

As for the status symbol thing, I do agree. Mainly because, admittedly, I do feel special holding a phone that nearly no one else has.
I hate having "fad" phones. Theres always a phone that everyone else has, makes your own feel less special.
RAZR when it first came out anyone? and then it became more subsidized and bam it was like 80% of the people I saw had one.

It is hella expensive and has too many issues/annoyances for a device that expensive though. But it was worth it, to me anyway.

Neutral

Christine @ Jan 6th 2009 7:41PM

I could swear I read on Engadget that the black version was going to be available through Best Buy. There's not going to be a black X1a at all?

Neutral

ddub @ Jan 6th 2009 9:47PM

Clearly they are using the same wonderfully intelligent strategy they used when pricing the PS3 quite a bit higher then the competition in hopes getting a bluray will make it all better.I'm sure they'll say it's a great deal because of all you get on the phone but you can offer me a Ferrari and Lamborghini for $200K and it may be a good deal but most people don't have $200k to spend on two cars so it's not exactly a great sales pitch.

Neutral

Nippero @ Jan 6th 2009 11:58PM

Actually no. The X1's price is on or at least around the same level as other competing smart phones (Omnia, Touch Pro, Touch HD).
The only difference is, no **US** carrier has bothered to pick up and subsidize the phone.
Look around online for unlocked phones, you'll see they're all extremely expensive (compared to their subsidized prices anyway). Hell.. the iPhone is $800+ unlocked IIRC (from places like HK of course).

The only real problem with the X1 in the US is that it came too late. AT&T picked up the Touch Pro already, and T-mo was out of the question since its new AWS band 3G isnt supported by the X1.

Neutral

NuShrike @ Jan 7th 2009 4:43AM

Ya, SonyStyle called me up in the morning asking if I wanted one. I said they missed the boat. The FUZE boat.

I would say this is the 3rd strike for Sony. Blow the launch twice, and then try on the third time to convince people to buy a fully-unsubsidized phone in this more frugal year after the economy's much-reported collapse, and after the shopping season. Especially, since the only compelling features of the phone really don't make it faster nor better to use at the end of the day. Go Qualcomm boat-anchor.

No wonder SE is losing so much business. Great products, poor execution.

Neutral

Derrick @ Jan 27th 2009 1:00PM

I got a call from the local SonyStyle store this morning saying it's available. It's funny because if they actually had it ready on Black Friday, I would have totally bought it. Now that more than a month has passed and the money that I once had in hand has been long spent, I have to admit that the "early adopter" price of $800 US looks just a bit too rich for my blood.

I'll probably wait until it's down to the $400-$500 range and hopefully by then there will be some option to load a stable version of Android on it. OR I may just wait for the Nokia N97 to hit the US, we'll see I guess. =p