Continuing a succession of announcements for the Mobile World Congress show, Sony-Ericsson today launched two touchscreen cameraphones it says are the first truly aimed at the mainstream. The 3.2-megapixel G700 and 5-megapixel G900 [both links active soon] make the unusual choice of offering both a touchscreen and a full number pad. The 2.4-inch LCD can be used to browse music, edit photos, surf the web, and call contacts with fingers as well as to draw or write notes with a stylus; in turn, the traditional controls allow quick dialing, menu-hopping, and shortcuts to common tasks.

Unlike the just-unveiled XPERIA X1, both G-series phones keep to Symbian instead of Windows Mobile for their OS and come with Wi-Fi for faster browsing at short range. The G900 improves on the G700 by adding not just the sharper camera but also a touch-based autofocus system and a fast multi-shot mode for capturing action scenes. Both Sony-Ericsson phones are due in the spring but are unlikely to see service outside of Europe with only 900/1800/1900MHz GSM calling and 2,100MHz UMTS for their 3G Internet access.