In addition to its dedicated and downloadable fitness applications, Sony Ericsson has been kind enough to include other built-in elements you’d want during your workout. The W580i has iPod-like functionality so you can plug in your earphones and listen to your favorite music tracks courtesy of your phone.
It’s also lightweight (3.3 ounces) and compact (3.9 by 1.85 by 0.5 inches). The W580i’s talk time is rated at a surprisingly high 9 hours with standby time up to 15 days and music play up to 20 hours in music mode.
The embedded SmartChipTM, which signals to your cell phone carrier who you are, is obnoxiously difficult to remove.
After removing the W580i’s battery cover and then removing its battery, I found myself having to use a knife in order to pop out the SmartChipTM. You couldn’t pop it out with your fingers. That’s unnecessarily difficult.
Perhaps the W580i’s “shake control” feature makes up for it, though. You can skip or shuffle music tracks with the mere flick of your wrist.
Price
For a non-smartphone (i.e. a phone reminiscent of a computer’s interface and functionality), this is a premium phone and it’s price as such. The Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman has a retail price of $299.99, which you’d likely not pay.
It’s also lightweight (3.3 ounces) and compact (3.9 by 1.85 by 0.5 inches). The W580i’s talk time is rated at a surprisingly high 9 hours with standby time up to 15 days and music play up to 20 hours in music mode.
The embedded SmartChipTM, which signals to your cell phone carrier who you are, is obnoxiously difficult to remove.
After removing the W580i’s battery cover and then removing its battery, I found myself having to use a knife in order to pop out the SmartChipTM. You couldn’t pop it out with your fingers. That’s unnecessarily difficult.
Perhaps the W580i’s “shake control” feature makes up for it, though. You can skip or shuffle music tracks with the mere flick of your wrist.
Price
For a non-smartphone (i.e. a phone reminiscent of a computer’s interface and functionality), this is a premium phone and it’s price as such. The Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman has a retail price of $299.99, which you’d likely not pay.
Committing two years of your life to AT&T, though, will drop the price by $100 to $149.99. Want more for less? A mail-in rebate via an AT&T promotion card scrapes off another 50 bucks.
With a two-year service contract and the mail-in rebate (after the weeks it’ll take to get to you), now you’re talking about snagging this premium fitness phone under the $100 barrier for $99.99. That’s generous, appropriate and a valuable opportunity for this feature-packed and innovative mobile phone.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this cell phone review? Chime in on the forums!
With a two-year service contract and the mail-in rebate (after the weeks it’ll take to get to you), now you’re talking about snagging this premium fitness phone under the $100 barrier for $99.99. That’s generous, appropriate and a valuable opportunity for this feature-packed and innovative mobile phone.
Your Two Cents: Have a comment or question related to this cell phone review? Chime in on the forums!
