Sony Ericsson Launches the G502, Its Least Expensive HSDPA Phone

Sony Ericsson G502 (ZOOM)

Sony Ericsson G502 (ZOOM)

Sony Ericsson G502 (ZOOM)

Sony Ericsson G502 (ZOOM)

Today Sony Ericsson unveiled the new G502, a device that appears to target the European market thanks to its 2100MHz HSDPA 3G and tri-band (900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/EDGE connectivity. Sony Ericsson touts the G502 as its least expensive HSDPA device to date, and at only 83.5g (2.9oz) in weight, we'll wager it is also one of the company's lightest HSDPA handsets. While not the thinnest phone Sony Ericsson has put out, the G502 still measures up at a compact 109mm x 46mm x 13.5mm (4.3" x 1.8" x .5").

The G502, as a mid-tier handset, comes equipped with a competent, if not mind boggling, array of features. For starters, this cell phone sports a 2", 262k color QVGA display that mates up well with the phone's 2 megapixel camera and NetFront web browser. A new feature on the G502 is the ability to have your favorite RSS feed displayed on the standby screen of the handset, making access to your favorite website easier than ever.

In terms of software, the G502 comes with Google Maps for Mobile pre-loaded, but the device lacks any kind of built-in GPS. Email support goes beyond the typical POP and IMAP systems thanks to the inclusion of Exchange Activesync support, which means that G502 users can get push email from their corporate or hosted Microsoft Exchange mail systems. Other features include Bluetooth stereo support and an FM radio, as well as 32MB of internal storage and a M2 compatible memory card slot.

Sony Ericsson claims that the G502's battery should be good for up to 9 hours of GSM talk time or 4.5 hours of 3G talk time, and should be able to keep the device working on standby for almost two full weeks if not used for anything else. The G502 will be available in Champagne Black or Brilliant Hazel when it starts shipping later this quarter. No word yet on pricing or specific market availability.