Sony Xperia S UK release date announced

Sony's Xperia S smartphone has been given a release date for the UK market.

The platform holder announced that the Android-powered handset will arrive in Britain in March, a claim which has since been backed up by retailer Phones 4U.

Sony unveiled the dual-core, NFC-enabled device at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier today. The phone features a 4.3-inch high definition Reality Display and a 12MP camera on the rear.

The handset, backed by entertainment content from the Sony Entertainment Network, launches with the Android platform 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system, but will receive an Ice Cream Sandwich update during the next fiscal quarter.

O2 and Three have confirmed that they will support the phone from launch. Phones 4U will stock an exclusive white variant, as well as the standard black model.

"The Xperia S takes the mobile HD experience to a whole new level and packages it all up in a slick new innovative design for Sony," said Phones 4U trading director Scott Hooton.

"Being the only retailer to offer both the white and black variants, along with free 4U Wi-Fi, we're expecting the Xperia S to be a popular smartphone of choice at Phones 4U as we enter the New Year."

Last year, Sony announced a full acquisition of its Sony Ericsson subsidiary in a €1.05 billion (£918 million) deal.

The full Xperia S Specifications run as follows:

- 4.3 inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine HD, giving a resolution of 1280 x 720
- Front (720p) and back (1080p) cameras for HD recording
- 1.5GHz dual-core processor
- 32GB flash storage
- 12MP back camera
- Sony Exmor R for mobile
- Fastest Capture to take shots in just 1.5 seconds directly from standby mode
- NFC (Near Field Communications) and Xperia SmartTags
- HD sharing through DLNA, HDMI and Bravia Sync (linking the phone to connected TV sets)

Watch a video introducing the Sony Xperia S below: