If Sony releases the Xperia ZL and no-one is around to take notice it, is the Xperia ZL released? In stealthy fashion, Sony has updated their online portal by taking pre-orders for the Xperia ZL. $759.99 is all it takes to own one and Sony will even throw in free shipping. All three colors (white, red, black) will be available on April 8th. If the price seems high, that’s because Sony is opting to offer their megaphone (though not to be confused with the Xperia Z which will be the true flagship) at an unlocked price. While a good option to have, it’s troubling that Sony continues to not parter with carriers which is so critical in the US. While other countries are used to paying full price for phones, the US consumer is used to subsidized and two year contracts which help bring phone prices between $99-$299.

With the Xperia Z looming around the corner, I can only hope that Sony has been working with carriers to help bring the devices price down. This of course is still only half the battle as Samsung begins their rollout of the Galaxy S4 in the next few weeks and T-Mobile has gone into full marketing blitz by finally offering the iPhone 5. Apple enthusiasts will note that the iPhone 5S will like be out by Summers end while the BlackBerry Z10, the relaunch of BlackBerry as a company has also begun.

Until Sony is able to offer their phones at an affordable price, these devices will stick exclusively to the enthusiasts and most hardcore fans. While nice to have them in your corner, Sony will need more then them in order to have a successful launch and more importantly, make a profit. Your move Sony marketing.

Discuss:

Do you think Sony will partner with carriers for the Xperia Z