Sony Ericsson will launch its first 3G handset early next year, the company said today.

The phone, the Z1010, was unveiled last February. The clamshell handset looks not unlike the Z600 tri-band GSM/GPRS phone the company launched earlier this week. It will launch in January 2004.

Like the Z600, the Z1010 contains a digicam for picture messaging. However, it also sports a second 480 x 640 camera for video calls inside the case, alongside the 16-bit colour screen.

According to Philip Rambech, head of Sony Ericsson UK and Ireland, the Z1010 is undergoing final testing right now to verify its ability to make two-way video calls.

In addition to the 3G UMTS system, the Z1010 supports GSM and GPRS. It is Bluetooth-enabled and also supports the transfer of pictures to and from a PC or Mac via a USB cable. Images can also be stored on Memory Stick Duo cards. ®

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