From tomorrow Telstra customers can be the first in Australia to grab the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY, with the new gaming handset launching at select Telstra stores around the nation.

The PLAY is the world’s first PlayStation™ certified smartphone and features a slide-out PlayStation™ certified game control. It comes with six games pre-installed: Star Battalion (Gameloft), FIFA 10, Madden NFL 11 and SIMS 3 (EA Games), Bruce Lee (Digital Legends) and Crash Bandicoot (Sony Computer Entertainment).

In addition, more than 60 games will be available to purchase and download at launch in Australia, including top franchises Assassin’s Creed™ – Altaïr’s Chronicles, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Worms, Need for Speed, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™ and Guitar Hero.

As well as being the ultimate handset for gamers, the Xperia™ PLAY is also an advanced smartphone offering access to over 200,000 apps via the latest version of Google’s Android™platform (Gingerbread, version 2.3).

Telstra’s flagship stores will be the first to stock the new smartphone (see the list below) with additional Telstra stores across Australia receiving deliveries by the start of next week.

Pricing
The Xperia™ PLAY can be purchased on Telstra’s new Freedom® Connect Plans including on the $79 Freedom® Connect Plan with a mobile repayment option of $20 per month, after using an included MRO Bonus (for eligible customers), for 24 months (min cost is $2,376). This plan includes $800 worth of eligible calls, unlimited standard national text and 2GB of data to use in Australia.

It will also be available to purchase outright for $960 RRP.

Key features

• Cutting edge smartphone with latest and fastest Google™ Android™ smartphone platform (2.3) to date
• Exclusive PlayStation™ certified branding, controls and games
• Brilliant 4” multi-touch Reality Display
• 6 exciting pre-loaded games at launch + over 60 more for download
• Supports multi-player and online gaming
• Micro SD support up to 32G (comes with 8GB Micro SD card)
• 5.1 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash

Availability
Starting tomorrow Telstra customers will also be able pick up a Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY on the Next G® network from the below stores (limited stock available).

Additional Telstra Stores across Australia will start selling Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY progressively from next week. Customers can check local stock availability by contacting their nearest Telstra Store.

Update: This is also available online by clicking here

Find your store:

• Australian Captial Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia