Those tech-savvy Japanese always need an extra gimmick on their phones. To satisfy this tech hunger of its (potential) subscribers, NTT DoCoMo announced a new version of the Sony Xperia A with Hatsune Miku, a locally popular humanoid based on the singing voice synthesizer Vocaloid.
Developed in collaboration with Hatsune Miku maker Crypton Future Media, this phone will be limited to 39,000 units and will go on sale in the Japanese market in late September. The device will also sport the “Miku color” body, decorated with graphics featuring the Hatsune Miku character, as well as exclusive content like Hatsune Miku wallpapers and widget for listening to different Hatsune Miku music. Moreover, alongside the Xperia A, users will also get a matching “Miku color” NFC-enabled Bluetooth headset.
The pre-launch phase has already started and will last through the end of July. In that period, users will be invited to share music clips and illustrations that may end-up being pre-loaded on the Hatsune Miku smartphone. Pre-orders will begin in late August, and no – we don’t think this Xperia A will ever “make it” to the Western hemisphere.