Xperia X1 is Telstra-exclusive

Sony Ericsson has announced the Xperia X1 will be exclusive to Telstra's Next G network in Australia.

In a statement Sony Ericsson has priced the X1 handset at AU$1,499 with a 4GB microSD included in the bundle. Telstra has yet to name contract pricing for the smartphone, but has confirmed the X1 will be in stores in "early December".

The much-anticipated Xperia X1, Sony Ericsson's first Windows Mobile smartphone, was first announced during World Mobile Congress in February this year. The phone uses touchscreen input and features a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard. Sony Ericsson hopes to differentiate this handset from its competition with what it calls the 'Xperia Panels' — a navigation system which acts as a home screen portal to a range of user customised interfaces.

Telstra has been successful in securing exclusive sales rights to many of this years most popular smartphone releases including the HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch Dual, the i-mate Ultimate series and the Palm Treo Pro, as well as non-exclusive rights to the Apple iPhone 3G.