Sony has launched an AT&T compatible version of its Xperia Arc Android smartphone for $599.99 unlocked, mere months after its initial introduction at MWC.
The Xperia Arc features a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, 4.2-inch 854 x 480 touch display, Android Gingerbread, 8.1 megapixel rear-illuminated Sony-branded EXMOR-R camera sensor with 720p HD video capture, 1GB internal memory, microSDHC slot, Wi-Fi N radio with DLNA support and a bodyshell that measures 8.7mm at the thinnest point with ergonomics at the core of its design.
The Arc’s launch is notable in that it is one of only a handful of unlocked Android phones to launch in the United States from major manufacturers. It is believed that Sony Ericsson originally intended for the phone to be picked up by AT&T, but instead offered it as an unlocked device after the carrier passed on the phone, late in its development.
It’s also the first Android phone to be exclusive to the SonyStyle store chain, with previous unlocked phones in the United States being sold by Sony Ericsson directly. This appears to be an effort to build better relations between Sony Ericsson, a partnership between Sony and Ericsson, and the mainline Sony corporate brand.
