Sony Ericsson C905s getting returned at a disturbing rate?

The C905's specs are enough to make even the occasional smartphone devotee swoon, but here's the thing: an 8.1 megapixel slider with AGPS, WiFi, and TV-out is about as useful as a PS3 running Vista if the firmware keeps crashing and burning. It seems that specific batches of C905s sold in the UK have been returned at crazy high rates -- up to 30 percent -- on account of nasty firmware bugs and unidentified "speaker faults," a problem eerily reminiscent of the earpiece problems recently seen on the European version of the Nokia 5800. For what it's worth, Sony Ericsson is aware of the problem and appears to be taking steps to correct it -- but unfortunately for those guys, most of the returners are probably lost to competing handsets at this point.

[Via Daily Mobile]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 10:54AM]

heh, hope this doesn't happen to AT&T's c905s...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 11:37AM]

Wouldn't that mean AT&T actually has to get the c905...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 11:34AM]

My friend has the C905 and has the problem with the Earpiece not working! Started a couple days ago, he rang me and he couldn't hear me, yet I could hear him fine! Went to the phoen shop today as we know everyone who works there and they say pretty much everyone they have sold has come back with a fault! Not good as my mate will have to send it back to get fixed and be with out a phone for 7 days at least!

Bad times!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 11:56AM]

I love SE products. However, as far as I know, the firmware of 90% (may be more) SE cell phones are terrible, or I would say still in Alpha version. Endless bugs, reboot or shutdown for no reason, slowed down for no reason, wired input method problem, bla...bla...bla... Usually, SE will release 2~5 firmware upgrade to each phone and leave the last one or two to work slightly better as a Beta version. By that time, several new phone would be released and users are ready to try the new Alpha firmware. I still love it anyway.

[SoCoolCurt Posted Mar 16th 2009 7:48PM]

"the firmware of 90% (may be more) SE cell phones are terrible"?

the firmware of 90% of ALL phones are terrible. i can honestly say that i have NEVER gotten a phone that wasn't buggy for at least the first few months i owned it. i've had a Moto v120e, about 5 different Verizon flagship LG flip phones, a Moto Q9c, and now a Treo 700wx and every last one of them was buggy out the wazoo. the Q9c was the only one that actually worked like it should after they updated it to WinMo 6.1, but that was almost a year after i got the thing that they released the firmware upgrade. maybe it's my bad luck but i have absolutely zero faith in phone companies ability to release phones without huge glaring issues at launch.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 1:25PM]

it looks like SE flagship phones have bad karma
K850
X1
and now, C905
why?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 2:59PM]

I've had 3 SE phones and none have had issues. Besides all of them being unlocked and the first 2 were a bit of a pain to set up all functions (MMS, SMS, Web), but my last and current phone K850i hasn't had any issues and the set up was a breeze.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2009 10:21PM]

This is actually an issue with the hardware, I believe. Not the software. C905's are going back and the speaker is being replaced.

[johdaxx Posted Mar 17th 2009 11:35AM]

Yah, my K850's been good too, but I waited 6months after release to buy it. Typically though AT&T puts a solid if annoyingly branded flash on the phone.

I really like their products too, but you figure, with all the money they're losing these days quality sure isn't going to improve.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2009 11:37AM]

Wouldn't that mean AT&T actually has to get the c905...