Handango and Sony Ericsson have teamed up to create a software shop from which applications can be downloaded (and purchased) over the air to a P800 or a P900. This represents the first complete Handango catalog to be available OTA.

The user experience is intended to be very easy. Not only can software be purchased, downloaded and installed directly on the phone the electronic wallet function allows purchase using just a password.

The P800/P900 Application was developed in conjunction with well known Symbian developer Bitween.

Press Release:
Sony Ericsson and Handango announce easy over-the-air download to smartphones

Sony Ericsson together with Handango, the leading provider of mobile downloads, today announced the availability of the Sony Ericsson Application Shop Client for the Sony Ericsson P800, P802 and P900 smartphones. Using the Application Shop Client, users can find, download and buy Symbian OS™ applications directly from their phones.

The Application Shop Client provided by Handango was developed in conjunction with Bitween, an Italian developer who is also a member of Sony Ericsson Developer World. Because the Application Shop Client runs locally, it offers a rich graphical interface and very fast response times, improving user experience while still offering the immediacy and convenience of over-the-air application delivery.

The Sony Ericsson Application Shop Client catalog highlights a wide variety of applications including games, utilities, entertainment, productivity, business and travel software selected from the Handango catalog where more than 500 applications for Sony Ericsson smartphones can be found. Customers can always access a selection of fresh, new applications on-demand through an “Update Catalog” function on the phone.

Customers can access product information including descriptions, user ratings, price and screenshots. They can easily try applications by downloading a trial over a wireless data connection. The Application Shop Client function features proprietary download interrupt technology. If a customer loses the wireless signal or halts a download mid-stream, the Application Shop Client can resume downloading without any data loss at any time.

Purchasing via the Application Shop Client is made easy with a secure wallet. Customers can save and encrypt their information within the client, making purchasing as easy as providing a password.

“Sony Ericsson is committed to make the every-day life of our consumers easier, at the same time as helping operators and service providers increase mobile data usage and subsequently the Average Revenue Per User. We are convinced that the possibility to download value-adding applications to phones over-the-air will contribute to both, and will bring the Sony Ericsson Application Shop closer to the user,” says Rikko Sakaguchi, senior vice president and head of Product & Application Planning at Sony Ericsson.

“The launch of the Application Shop Client with Sony Ericsson is a significant milestone for Handango. The client extends Handango AMPP, our provisioning platform, directly to the phone and delivers an incredible, intuitive user experience. Using the Application Shop Client, mobile operators can expose their entire base of users to downloadable goods, driving adoption and wireless data revenue,” said Laura Rippy, chief executive officer at Handango.

Sony Ericsson has had great success with its Web-based Application Shop, powered by Handango, since the launch in March 2003. The shop contains many useful and fun applications for Sony Ericsson smartphones as well as for the T610/T616 and Z600. The Application Shop Client was developed as a response to market demands, is compatible with the Sony Ericsson P800, P802 and P900, and is available today for download at www.SonyEricsson.com/applicationshop.

About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB offers mobile communications products for people who appreciate the possibilities of powerful technology. Established in 2001 by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and Sony Corporation, the joint venture continues to build on the success of its two innovative parent companies. Sony Ericsson creates value for its operator customers by bringing new ways of using multimedia communications while mobile. The company’s management is based in London, and has 4,000 employees across the globe working on research, development, design, sales, marketing, distribution and support.
For further information, please visit: www.SonyEricsson.com

About Handango
Handango is the leading provider of mobile downloads, bringing over 35,000 applications and 25,000 digital media titles to market through an extensive global distribution network that reaches more than six million mobile users each month. Handango's application management and provisioning platform, Handango AMPP, has been chosen as the mobile software delivery platform for Nokia, Motorola, Sprint, Orange SA, Sony Ericsson, Palm, Microsoft, Sony, HP, Handspring, SEGA Mobile, Sharp Electronics and more than 100 others. For more information, visit www.handango.com._