Sony Ericsson has decided to issue its latest batch of smartphones that run on Android, minus the support of major American telcos and allowing U.S. consumers to enjoy a quick taste of the new Google-powered handsets.

Set to operate on open network, Sony Ericsson unveiled the Xperia Arc S and Xperia Neo V, both of which run on dual networks and can be accommodated by dominant North American carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

The downside though, according to tech observers, would be the lack of considerable discounts normally available on devices that U.S. telcos lump with their subscription packages.

According to Newsfactor.com, the Japanese firm, which recently consolidated its mobile phone division, opted to market the new Xperia series, said to stand on Gingerbread platform or Android 2.3, via its in-house Sony Stores that are spread in strategic locations across America.

Prior to their American debut, Newsfactor.com notes that the two Xperia handsets have seen considerable reception in Europe, with consumers in the region largely appreciative of the high-end devices' generous features.

The tech news site has reported that for the Arc S, U.S consumers are bound to enjoy 4.2 inch that largely replicates the BRAVIA technology seen on television sets churned out by Sony, with numerous connectivity options and faster processing time owing to the handset's 1.4 GHz Snapdragon brain.

Sony also deployed an 8.1 Megapixel camera with the Arc S, giving the device capability to record both high-resolution still and moving images, with options of capturing 3D panoramas usually offered on high-end digital cameras.

The Neo V, on the other hand, is pretty much a stripped-down version of the Arc S, Newsfactor.com said, yet all the technology applied on the latter will be appreciated by U.S. buyers, though in a lesser extent.

The tech site said that Sony Stores will retail the Arc S for $500 while the Neo V can be had for only $350.

In a review, Gartner noted that the new smartphones mark Sony's new approach in the lucrative mobile phone industry following its decision to buy-out its European partner.

The technology research firm also highlighted the arrival of Sony Ericsson's new breed of smartphones, with the Arc S encapsulating the company's spirited efforts to raise its stake on the market presently ruled by Apple, Nokia and Samsung.

As of the September quarter, Sony Ericsson has shipped some 8.5 million units of mobile handsets, according to Gartner, which placed the company into the 10th spot in the sector or an equivalent of a measly 1.9 percent of overall market share.

In a blog, however, Sony Ericsson has indicated its intent to change that picture soon as the company revealed plans to "upgrade the entire 2011 Xperia portfolio to the next version of Android."

"We are working on merging our current Xperia experience with the new features in Android 4.0," the Sony blog said as reported by Newsfactor.com.