Sony Ericsson are really flexing their music muscles now, with the launch of the new MMR-60 FM music transmitter.  This device enables a Sony Ericsson Walkman-branded phone to pipe its music out to any Hi-Fi with a radio.  The Walkman phone pumps the music out to the MMR-60, which then transmits it over an FM-channel of your choice, and is then picked up by any radio within a 10m range tuned to the same channel. Simple!

These devices have become popular recently for generic MP3 players, enabling you to listen to music from your MP3 player in situations where you can’t use headphones (prinicpally in a car, or when you want your friends to listen to your tunes).  This, however, is the first such device principally designed at the outset for use with a mobile phone, and shows Sony Ericsson really have their finger on the pulse when it comes to what the user wants from  music phone.  Put simply, a phone’s ability to play MP3 files is nothing new: a true music phone stands or falls on its music playing abilities and the quality of the sound it produces, and Sony Ericsson’s recent bout of releases show they understand this better than the competition (certainly beats Motorola’s efforts with the ROKR). The Walkman phones are now really starting to stand out from the competition.

More details after the jump.

Sony Ericsson Press Release

Attached to a Sony Ericsson mobile phone it can transmit music files from the handset over the FM radio frequency band. This means that you can now to listen to favourite MP3/AAC tracks from your mobile, through any radio receivers within range.

The transmitter attaches to any Sony Ericsson mobile phone incorporating the new system connector Fast port. Menus in the mobile phone allow you to control the transmitting frequency at a range of up to 10 meters. Since the MMR-60 remembers the last used frequency, it’s easy to reconnect to the radio whenever you like. When a call comes in, the music stops playing and continues when you hang up. Small and easy to carry around, the MMR-60 offers a simple plug-and-play solution for people who want to share their favourite music with others.

“This Walkman™ phone accessory is a must-have for anyone who wants to unleash the music from his or her phone and share it with friends, at a party or even in the car,” said Per Helander, Product Manager. You can now use any radio receiver within a 10m range to listen to your favourite tracks in stereo loudspeakers, wherever you happen to be.

The MMR-60 is the newest addition to the strong portfolio of Sony Ericsson music accessories. The range includes, among other products, the Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-70 and the Music Cable MMC-60.

Available in limited markets during December 2005, the MMR-60 will be released according to the legal requirements of each country.

Features

• Plays music from your handset on any radio receiver within range
• Kit contents
• FM Music Transmitter MMR-60
• Box for storing and carrying

Facts

• Size: 43×27x11mm
• Weight: 9 gram
• Range: Up to 10 meters
• Colour: Gray/silver/black

Note: Since FM-transmitters are not allowed in all countries yet, it will be launched in countries where we know it is allowed. This currently includes USA, South America, Australia and some countries in Asia. As we get knowledge about other countries allowing this, this list will grow.