Following the success of the Walkman branded mobile phones Sony Ericsson are planning to keep producing phones focused around one major feature.

The first Walkman phones appeared in August 2005 and have sold over 5.5 million units since then, exceeding all expectations. The Walkman brand is still one of the most desirable in the music industry and until the iPod phone is launched it’s the best in the mobile phone music player selection.

Several of the latest Walkman phones are focussing more and more on the music playing aspects of the phone and less on the actual phone itself. Judging by the sales figures this tactic is proving a success.

“If you look at the other four handset makers I’m not sure any have been able to establish a brand with their phones that make them stand out as music devices. Motorola clearly had the first attempt to link up with Apple and it seems initially that hasn’t proved hugely successful and with the other three it isn’t clear how they can brand their phones to make them stand out to consumers,” a spokesman for Sony Ericsson stated.

“If Sony hadn’t let us use Walkman - and there was never any doubt they wouldn’t - it would have been much more difficult,”.

View the full range of Sony Ericsson mobile phones