Sony-Ericsson planning P5i 'ultimate' smartphone?

Sony-Ericsson is readying a high-end successor to its high-end P1i and P990 smartphones that will be announced within days, say insiders at Esato who claim to have seen the device. The P5i slider should be considerably more portable than the P990 but maintain a 2.8-inch touchscreen and a much wider range of connections. HSUPA Internet access would provide it with fast uploads as well as downloads; Wi-Fi would also be part of the package and provide an even faster link on local networks. The rear camera will be one of Sony-Ericsson's most powerful with a 5-megapixel sensor, autofocus, and flash, the sources claim.

Though full details are unavailable, the handset may also incorporate GPS mapping. A mockup from a source who claims to have seen the device (pictured) also suggests an interface more closely resembling Sony's Cross Media Bar (XMB) than the company's more conventional UIQ layout.

If the update proves true, the P5i will be announced as early as November 15th but will not be available on a widespread basis until May or June of next year. Details of support for North American HSPA access are unknown, although Sony-Ericsson currently offers the P1i as an unlocked device in the US with limited support for US networks.