The first thing that strikes you about the Sony Ericsson Jalou is its unique design. The clamshell design handset is incredibly small but manages to include a host of functions within its tiny frame.
The Jalou measures a very small 73 x 45 x 18.2mm when closed up, and weighs a diminutive 84g. The overall design is akin to a matchbox, and in line with its target audience can easily be slipped into the smallest of bags. The finish of the handset makes the Jalou look like a jewel or precious stone at a glance, and will be launched in a variety of colour choices including purple, black and blue. Designers Dolce and Gabanna will also be releasing a rose and gold version. The phone has two screens, the main screen which is revealed when the phone is opened, and a smaller external display. This display measures 33mm and at a glance allows you to view the time, battery level and signal strength. When the light on this display fades the screen blends invisibly with the exterior of the phone. The internal screen measures 51mm (2″) and is QVGA resolution, displaying a total of 262 thousand colours. A neat feature of the phone is that this screen has a mirror function, by simply pressing the clear button the screen allows you to see your reflection, transforming the Jalou into a kind of compact mirror. With any other phone this feature may prove laughable, but considering the target audience and design of this device it adds to the phones appeal. A keypad and a chrome tinted, hexagonal D pad can be found once the phone is flipped open.
For a “Fashion” phone, the Sony Ericsson Jalou’s spec sheet doesn’t make for to bad a reading. HSDPA and 3G connectivity are covered, allowing browsing of the web and e mailing. Bluetooth is also enabled for data transfer and connection to peripheral devices. The Camera function is a satisfactory 3.2 mega pixel affair, sadly lacking a flash or an autofocus facility, but more than adequate for your average phone snapper. The phone also has provisions for uploading photos immediately to a number of social networking websites. Video capture is also supported at a rate of 15 frames per second. An FM radio is built in and the internal music player supports a variety of formats. 100 mb of internal memory is supplied with the Jalou, with the customary microSd card slot allowing for expansion up to 4gb. Battery life is good at 7 hours talktime and 350 hours standby from the supplied Lithium-ion battery.
The Sony Ericsson is a relatively low cost phone offering a stylish and very small design, but still managing to have enough feature to compete with similar priced larger phones on the market. This is aimed at the ladies, as the features list and design cleary illustrates, and the Jalou offers a nice alternative to plainer looking but more feature packed designs.