Sony looks to PlayStation to rejuvenate its struggling smartphone division, which lags rivals in an expanding market. (PHOTO CREDIT: Sony)

Sony, which has fallen behind in the rapidly expanding global smartphone market, on Thursday announced a new flagship smartphone called Xperia Z3v, which has the ability to stream PlayStation 4 games. The new handset will be available in the U.S. at Verizon Wireless stores starting Oct. 23.

The new Xperia Z3v features a 5.2-inch display and a waterproof body. The device, powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor, also allows users to access PlayStation 4 games remotely if they own the console. The launch of the new handset is being viewed as Sony’s attempt to revive its struggling smartphone division with the help of its booming PlayStation business.

“We know the challenges of building up our business,” Bloomberg quoted Kunimasa Suzuki, chief of Sony’s mobile division. “The U.S. is one of the most exciting smartphone markets in the world and of course one of the toughest.”

According to Sony, the Xperia Z3v, which features a 20.7-megapixel rear camera, will be priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract with Verizon.

Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the smartphone will support 4G LTE connectivity while sipping power from a 3200mAh battery. The device will sport 32 GB internal storage and will support a microSD card with up to 128 GB of storage.

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SOURCE: IBT
Kukil Bora