Pictures show never released Sony Ericsson VAIO smartphone with keypad
XDA Developers has put pictures of an unreleased Sony Ericsson VAIO phone online. It is an Android 2.1 smartphone with a physical keyboard that can be extended. VAIO was Sony’s laptop brand.
The device probably dates from 2010, XDA Developers writes. At the time, Sony sold laptops under the VAIO brand name. The prototype is particularly striking because of the extendable keyboard, which can also be tilted, so that the phone can be used as a kind of mini laptop. The keys seem to be relatively thick and have quite a bit of travel, according to XDA Developers.
The Android 2.1 phone has a 5.5 “screen and also physical back, home and menu buttons, as was common with Android smartphones at the time. There are additional Android buttons on the keyboard, for the search function and a function key.
The VAIO logo can be seen on the back of the phone. There is also a small Sony Ericsson logo on the device. There are also four rubbers on the back, so that the phone does not slide when used as a ‘laptop’.
Sony never released the device and never announced anything about it. VAIO was Sony’s laptop brand, and until 2014, the Japanese manufacturer itself sold laptops under that name. After that, the name was sold to Japan Industrial Partners. In 2015, a VAIO smartphone was released, but that was an Android device without special features, which Sony no longer had to do with.