Build your collection every day

receiver. This gives you the ability to share your music with all those around you, whether through a friend’s hi-fi or your car stereo.

Quality music is made for sharing with the W980. Unplug your headset, sit back and let the music flow through the integrated stereo speakers for all to enjoy. Select a track from the extensive music library – the W980 lets you store up to 8000 songs* – or tune in to your favourite radio station and listen out loud. No need to plug in an FM Receiver, since this is on-board with the W980.

With the recent evolution of PlayNow™ arena, Sony Ericsson’s popular over-the-air (OTA) and web download service being launched this May, you will be able to access up to 5 million tracks to maximise your music collection. The W980’s TrackID™ feature, which can identify any track that you just can’t put a name to, will be fully integrated into PlayNow™ arena. This makes the W980 a genuine gateway to great music, as you can download the track instantly once it has been identified.

Customise your sound

You can tailor the W980’s Walkman® player to the music that you’re listening to. This latest Walkman® phone provides a choice of eight equaliser presets, each of which contains a distinct profile that is suitable to a range of music. So whether you’re listening to jazz, pop or heavy metal, you’ve can always choose the best sound for the song.

Control your music at your fingertips

The Walkman® on Top feature on the W980 gives you the full functionality of a Walkman® player without even having to open your phone. The entire Walkman® player that would normally be displayed on the inside of your clamshell is also replicated on the outside of the phone, so navigation through your music library is effortless.

Balance and beat

Every music enthusiast knows that a great audio experience requires great quality speakers or headphones. The W980 Walkman® phone comes with the new Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-77; a headset that lets you enjoy music in powerful stereo sound. The HPM-77also allows users to take their calls handsfree, and its sleek design and in-ear wearing-style mean that it’s both comfortable and reduces background noise to the bare minimum.

Whether listening via the headphones or the stereo speakers, the W980 Walkman® phone is a must-have for those who want an unrivalled music experience, which they carry with them every minute of the day. It is a UMTS/HSDPA 2100 GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 phone that will be available in selected markets from Q3 2008.

The Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-77will be available in selected markets from June 2008.

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W980 specifications

The Sony Ericsson W980, released in early 2008, stands as a testament to the innovative spirit of its era, merging cutting-edge technology with the classic design aesthetic of the Walkman line. As a feature-rich mobile phone, it was designed primarily for music enthusiasts, boasting an array of capabilities that positioned it as one of the standout devices of its time.

One of the W980's hallmark features is its exceptional music playback quality. Equipped with a dedicated Walkman music player, it allowed users to enjoy high-quality audio with ease. The phone supports a variety of audio formats, including MP3, AAC, and WMA, catering to different music tastes. Moreover, the W980 comes with a generous storage capacity of up to 8GB via the expandable M2 memory card slot, ensuring that users could carry their extensive music libraries with them wherever they went.

The W980 is also known for its impressive design. The sleek, clamshell form factor is not only stylish but also practical, offering protection for the screen and buttons when closed. Available in sophisticated colors such as 'Dusky Black' and 'Luminous Green', the phone appealed to a wide array of consumers. Additionally, the device featured a 2.2-inch QVGA display, which provided sharp images and a pleasant viewing experience for both music album artwork and videos.

In terms of connectivity, the W980 supports Bluetooth, allowing users to connect seamlessly to wireless headphones and other devices. The inclusion of A2DP support further enhances the wireless music experience, enabling high-quality audio streaming. Furthermore, the phone features a built-in FM radio, providing users with access to local radio stations, which is an appealing option for those who enjoy live broadcasts.

The W980 is built on the Symbian platform, providing a user-friendly interface along with various customizable themes, ensuring that users could personalize their experience. The phone also includes an integrated camera, boasting a 3.2-megapixel resolution, enabling users to capture moments with decent clarity, although it lacks advanced features found in later smartphones.

In conclusion, the Sony Ericsson W980 embodies a unique fusion of music-centric features, modern design, and practical functionality, making it a popular choice for those looking to integrate their passion for music into their mobile experience. As the mobile landscape has evolved, the W980 remains a nostalgic reminder of the mobile phones that paved the way for the multifunctional smartphones we use today.