It coulda been a contender: the Sony Ericsson Aino

The Sony Ericsson Aino is the kind of gadget we weep for. A beautiful phone, with killer software and a feature set to stop rivals in their tracks. But it’s fatally flawed. Why? Because this is as close to a PlayStation phone as Sony Ericsson can get, and it’s still miles off.

The Sony Ericsson Aino hooks up to a PlayStation 3 all right, latching on to its remote play abilities and serving up video, music and photos on the go, either using Wi-Fi or 3G. Sure, it’s a mammoth step forward for Sony Ericsson, and PlayStation owners on the whole. But that’s where the fun stops.

There’s no PS3 gaming, not a jot. And when we pressed Nathan Vautier, the Managing Director of Sony Ericsson UK on whether there would ever be a PlayStation phone, he refused to be drawn, answering flatly “no, no. You have to look at things from a single product proposition.”

In fact, all Sony Ericsson’s announcements tonight are lacking familiar brands. There’s no Walkman, Cybershot or PlayStation branding anywhere. Are the rumours true? Is Sony distancing itself from its mobile-making partner?

It seems so. And the story gets worse once you handle the Sony Ericsson Aino. The product itself isn’t just devoid of a PlayStation badge, there are none of the familiar circle, square, triangle or cross buttons. It’s a very disorientating experience, even given the familiarity of the PS3’s cross-menu bar interface, which pops up in eye-popping clarity.

We asked Sony representatives whether owners would be confused (after all, the PS3’s interface makes constant references to pressing specific buttons), and were informed that the best Sony Ericsson can do is provide written instructions in the phone’s manual. It is not allowed to brand the phone with PlayStation buttons, presumably because they are copyright.

Don’t get us wrong. We’re not bemoaning the Sony Ericsson Aino for a simple lack of coloured control keys. What this demonstrates is something deeper. It hints at a schism between Sony and Sony Ericsson. There’s an underlying feeling that while the Sony name is still present, it’s not whole-heartedly supporting the Ericsson side of the business.

We’d welcome your thoughts too. Bold move by Sony Ericsson? Or the last gasp of a dying relationship. Give us your thoughts below.

(Via Electricpig)

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