XPERIA X1 delayed until January?

While Sony is expected to ship its XPERIA X1 touchscreen phone in October, new information seen on the UK Sony Style website hints that the release could be pushed back to January 2009. The Register reveals that a menu selection graphic contains a "January" tag, with the product page itself claiming the launch date is undecided. The information comes after conflicting news that Sony Ericsson already mistakenly delayed the device, and retailer Expansys claiming it had receive demonstration units of the phone already. Sony Ericsson is releasing the Windows Mobile-based XPERIA X1 to combat a growing presence from Apple's iPhone, which has recently proven to counter words from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The Microsoft chief recently blasted the device, saying that any shortage from its 20 million license estimate would be from a rounding error, not from increased competition from the Cupertino-based Apple.

Sony also hopes to recover its sagging financials, which it cites the Sony Ericsson mobile division's poor sales as being the primary reason for a 47-percent loss.