Sony Ericsson announces T270i, T280i, R300i and R306i

Today Sony Ericsson launched four new handsets that won't break the bank. The T270i and T280i are slim, simple mobile phones aimed at users who want the basics.

The two are almost identical, except for the T280i's 1.3-megapixel camera -- don't expect high quality shots, but it'll do for MMS.

Similar to the Sony Ericsson T650i, the T270i and T280i have two-tone cases that make them stand out from the rest of the budget crowd -- not very flashy, but then you don't always want to be.

Features-wise there isn't much to shout about -- there's an FM radio, WAP browser and Bluetooth, but these phones hopefully won't be very expensive. For more information visit the Sony Ericsson Web site. Click through for the next two phones.

The other pair of entry-level lovelies to be announced by Sony Ericsson were the R300i and R306i. Focusing on FM radio, these phones look a good deal more exciting than the T270i and T280i.

The Sony Ericsson R300i is a candybar phone that comes with an FM radio, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a loudspeaker with an enhanced mode for added volume, and an alarm clock that can play the radio when it goes off. As a budget phone, it'll play MP3 ringtones, but it doesn't have an MP3 player or a memory card slot.

Packing almost all the same features as the R300i, the R360i comes with the added bonus of stereo speakers, which should be loud enough to annoy people at the front of the bus even if you're sitting right at the back.

Both handsets will be available to buy some time after July this year. -Andrew Lim