Sony-Ericsson gearing up slim Z660i clamshell phone?

Sony-Ericsson should be preparing its first truly slim flip phone for early next year, say sources with information from the Esato forums. The Z660i would be a spiritual descendant of the W890i, adopting a clamshell form but remaining exceptionally thin: the closed phone would be just 0.55 inches thick, say the reports. As a result, the phone would also include an external LCD for call info. The Z660i's membership in the mid-range 600-series phone line will dictate a smaller 2-megapixel camera to keep the price in check.

The device will include 3G networking, though leaks to date have not pointed out whether this will involve HSPA, UMTS, or frequency support for North American networks. A release date is also unclear but may occur mid-year following a debut at a major phone event, such as the Mobile World Congress in February.