Sony Ericsson and Handango Announce Global Partnership

Sony Ericsson and Handango, the global leader and retailer of choice for smartphone applications, announced today a worldwide partnership to bring content direct to consumers on all Sony Ericsson convergence phones, including the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, its first product using the Windows Mobile multimedia OS, and Sony Ericsson's UIQ handsets.

High-end phone sales are growing exponentially, and more consumers are turning to their handsets for both every-day personal and business efficiency as well as multimedia and entertainment. Handango offers the widest array of mobile applications across all genres including mobile productivity, games, imaging, music and more. From students to moms to the business road warrior, Handango has applications that fit every lifestyle.

Handango's InHand clients will offer Sony Ericsson customers a vast and easy-to-navigate array of best-in-class smartphone applications. All applications have been designed for optimal performance on Sony Ericsson's XPERIA and UIQ devices

"We look forward to our partnership with Handango which has the global reach, the market share, the merchandising know-how and the technical prowess to provide the best service for Sony Ericsson's users to optimize their device experience," states Mikael Nerde, Director of Application Acquisitions & Content Planning, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. "This partnership further enhances Sony Ericsson's position at the forefront of mobile convergence by providing our users access to a wide range of applications on the market both for work and recreation."

"This partnership is about leaders working with leaders. Sony Ericsson's global footprint provides us with direct access to millions of new smartphone customers allowing Handango to educate them on how to personalize their device according to their individual needs," states Handango CEO, Bill Stone. "The global content and application market is experiencing tremendous growth as more and more mainstream customers enter the marketplace, and with nine years gathering experience and knowledge in the mobile content industry, no one can touch Handango's expertise."

Sony Ericsson's highly anticipated XPERIA X1 is designed to deliver Web communication and multimedia entertainment at their best. Handango will provide a factory-embedded Handango-branded Windows Mobile 6.1 InHand client enabling the user direct access to applications for enhanced device usage. Users can browse the catalogue online and offline searching for content most suited to their needs and purchase directly with the click of a button. The InHand client will be available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

In addition, Handango will be the content provider for Sony Ericsson's mobile Web store for UIQ phones. Later in the year, Handango will offer its InHand mobile client on all UIQ devices. For UIQ devices already on the market, customers will be able to access content from Handango's mobile store via their handset's browser, effective July 25, 2008 ( http://mobile.handango.com/se-ota ). For subsequent devices the Handango "over-the-air" link will be embedded on the devices in the factory before they are shipped.