Want the latest smartphone but are conscious about your carbon footprint? Then Sony Ericsson have the answer with the Sony Ericsson Aspen! Running the latest version of Windows Mobile and with serious green credentials, the Aspen definitely sets itself apart from the HTC’s and BlackBerry’s of the business world but has it got enough going for it to prove a viable alternative? Read on for our first look…

Running Windows Mobile 6.5, the Aspen gets off to a good start. The latest version of Microsoft’s mobile OS is complimented nicely by Sony Ericsson’s Panels user interface which lets users select specific applications to appear as a panel (shortcut) and even drop them into a timeline to open at a specific time during the day. The Aspen’s SlideView key also provides instant access to key areas such as applications, your calendar, emails and more and lets you flick through them.

With a design that borrows from the BlackBerry range and Nokia Eseries, the Sony Ericsson Aspen sports a 2.4 inch display and a full QWERTY keyboard. The Aspen does have an ace up its sleeve over its rivals though – the display is touch sensitive. Use the touchscreen to browse menus and navigate the music player and camera whilst dropping down to the full keyboard to compose emails and messages.

As a member of the GreenHeart range, the Sony Ericsson Aspen has its sights set firmly on the eco aware amongst us and so the body is made with recycled plastics whilst the whole device has no lead and less chemicals implemented in its design. In keeping with the GreenHeart tradition, the Aspen ships with an e-manual (an online version rather than a physical paper manual), a low power consumption charger to conserve energy and ultra compact packaging.

So with a smartphone operating system, qwerty keyboard plus touchscreen and eco-friendly design, the Aspen is shaping up quite nicely. Throw in HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS built in, a 3.15 Megapixel camera, MP3 music player with a 3.5mm audio jack and expandable memory and the Aspen is definitely showing promise. Expected to launch in Q2 of this year, click here to register for updates.