The Walkman brand has faced quite a tough time in the market due to iPod’s onslaught. In a bid to reverse this, Sony has now come out with an Android based Walkman phone. A prototype of the phone, called the Walkman Mobile Entertainment Player, was showcased by the company during the ongoing IFA consumer electronics event in Berlin, Germany.
“This is our first try to make convergence between Android products and our own technology,” said Toshimichi Nagashima, general manager of digital music player product planning at Sony.
Toshimichi added: “After reviewing the customers’ acceptance, we’ll decide how to expand this kind of product. We have some confidence for this product.”
The phone will have access to Sony’s Music Unlimited service, and a separate Walkman button which works even when the phone is locked, allowing users to access music more easily. The videos on the device can be viewed on DLNA devices as well. The Sony Android Walkman also allows users to access the usual Android apps, which is a first for a Walkman phone.
However, its form factor is slightly on the large side; a smaller pocket friendly device would have been sweeter. During the unveiling, the Sony official was unclear about when the device will be launched in the market.