Sony Ericsson launches 3G handset

Mobile phone giant Sony Ericsson has unveiled its first 3G handset at the 3GSM show being held in Cannes this week.

Consumers can expect to see the clamshell Z1010 phone in the second half of this year. Among its arsenal of gadget-fan-friendly features it boasts a video camera to enable live handset-to-handset video conferencing. It can also record and send short video clips.

Sony Ericsson believes the launch of the 3G handset is just the latest milestone in the company's march towards market domination.

By 2006 the company plans to be the leading manufacturer of mobile phone handsets - leaving it just three years to overthrow the likes of Nokia, Samsung and Mototola who currently lead the Swedish-Japanese joint venture.

The company is also planning a return to profitability.

Executive vice president of Sony Ericsson Jan Wareby told Reuters: "We have plans to return to the black this year through increasing market share."

This year Sony Ericsson expects to see a market share of between six and eight per cent - compared to Nokia's 39 per cent and Motorola's 19 per cent. The company has said it will hit profitability with a share or seven per cent or more.

silicon.com's own Tony Hallett is over in Cannes this week catching up with the movers and shakes in the 3G market. Expect to see more in depth coverage from 3GSM on silicon all this week.