Sony Ericsson Xperia due out this month

Mobile handset manufacturer Sony Ericsson said Wednesday that its first Microsoft Windows Mobile-based device will debut at the end of September.

The Xperia X1, which was first unveiled at World Congress in February, will hit shelves in the UK, Germany and Sweden on September 30.

It is the first Sony Ericsson device to use Windows Mobile and has been manufactured by Taiwanese firm HTC. The X1 is also the first in a range under the new Xperia sub-brand, lining up alongside the Walkman and Cyber-shot names.

As for the gadget itself, it boasts a slider form factor with a full QWERTY keyboard, a 3″ touchscreen VGA display and support for HSDPA/HSUPA and wifi.

The handset will be available in other markets across Europe, Asia and Latin America throughout the fourth quarter, but there is no indication that it will be released in North America.