Somehow I find this a little hard to believe, but they’re saying that the Sony Ericsson G502 is the first model in the company’s lineup to boast high-speed HSDPA connectivity. I guess it’s better to be a little late to the party than to never come at all. In addition to UMTS/HSDPA 2100, this candybar also has tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900). Not terribly North America-friendly, I know.

The faster browsing is a definite plus and it also means that you’ll have an easier time handling applications like Google Maps for mobile. You gain access to high quality maps, highly detailed with restaurants, hotels, and other points of interest. The GPS side of things will come via the HGE-100 GPS Enabling accessory. The preloaded weather forecast app is pretty handy too.

Rounding out the specs are RSS Desktop, ActiveSync email, stereo Bluetooth, media player, 2 megapixel camera, picture blogging, Java, 3D games, and FM radio. Look for the Sony Ericsson G502 to start shipping during Q2 2008 with your choice of either Champagne Black or Brilliant Hazel. No word on price.