Sony-Ericsson's contribution to Germany's CeBIT technology expo today is the T303, a compact slider said to boost the standards for relatively basic phones. The device sports a mirrored front finish with a metal trim and also brings a 1.3-megapixel camera that provides better quality than the VGA cameras that ship with other phones in the class. The handset trims costs by carrying just 8MB of memory and removing the Memory Stick Micro slot of other Sony-Ericsson phones but offers an FM radio to supply music.

The company plans to offer three separate versions of the T303 to cater to different regions. The T303a is destined for the Americas and supports the three bands used by carriers such as AT&T, Rogers, and T-Mobile; both the international T303 and the China-only T303c will offer the 900MHz band needed for cellular access both in Europe and parts of southeast Asia. All three will be available in mid-year; prices will vary but are expected to be low.