What with the Google ad we’ve recently seen, it seems clear that after a couple of months of not hearing much about the Sony Xperia Ion, it’s nearing a US release. The Google ad we recently saw told us that the handset would be out in June exclusively to AT&T. The Sony Xperia Ion has also been certified by the GCF (Global Certification Forum) which means it’s close to being released.

Hopefully we’ll hear something official from Sony or AT&T regarding the release date of the Xperia Ion which will be the first Sony LTE phone in the US – when it is released any way. Other handsets announced for AT&T after the Ion, have already been released so hopefully we won’t have to wait much longer.

Despite no firm release dates being announced for the unveiling of the Sony Xperia ion on the AT&T network, it seems as though a possible mistaken advertisement on Google is showing that the handset is to be released exclusively on AT&T in June this year.

An advertisement on ‘Google Ads’ which shows up when users search for a term on the Google search system enlightens us to the fact that the Xperia ion, with it’s 12.1 megapixel camera and 4G LTE support is “coming exclusively to AT&T in June”. First we’ve heard and perhaps, not the way the news was meant to be announced. Neither Sony or AT&T have stated when/if the ion is on the way so we will have to wait and see if either official source announce the news themselves soon.

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When the Sony Xperia Ion was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month, the handset was dubbed to be not only an AT&T exclusive but, also a US exclusive. We later reported that a UK company had the Sony Xperia Ion available for pre-order but, with no dates or pricing and was the only retailer outside of the US to offer the Ion. We can now confirm thanks to an announcement from Sony, that the Xperia Ion will be available outside of the US.

Sony have said that the Xperia Ion will be available globally from the summer so hopefully we should see it released before September. Just to recap, the Xperia Ion features a 4.6″ display making it the biggest of the Xperias, however it still outputs the same resolution as the 4.3″ Xperia S. The Ion also features a 12 megapixel camera, 1.5GHz dual core processor and LTE. Whether the Ion will have 4G technology or equivalent outside of the US is yet to be revealed.

Sony and AT&T announced the Sony Xperia Ion at CES last month with a release date of Spring 2012. The phone is supposed to be an AT&T exclusive but, third party retailers have the handset available for pre-order in the US off contract and more importantly, unlocked. Negri Electronics has the price down as $569.50 for an unlocked Sony Xperia ION while Celhut has the phone listed at $444.99 off contract.

At the moment, neither of the retailers have a release date much like Mobile Fun in the UK but, there is a small chance that they may release the phone before AT&T. However as it is supposed to be an AT&T phone, only networks which support 2100/1900/850 frequency will be able to use 3G, meaning T-Mobile users will only be able to get 2G out of the phone.

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Sony have promised something big for CES and for the most part, many have assumed that this would be the Sony Ericsson Xperia Nozomi, with a HD screen and 13 megapixel camera. However information for a 4.55 inch display Xperia have been uncovered. Only a few specifications are known at the moment and we have no photos of the actual handset, known as the LT28at or Aoba.

What we can tell you however is, that it comes with a 4.55″ Reality display and a 1280×720 resolution, a 13 megapixel camera with LED flash and the front camera will be capable of 720p video. The handset will also come a 1.5GHz dual processor and will be LTE enabled in the US market, most likely for AT&T.

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play has been in the US for a little while now, first launching on Verizon back in May. The gaming handset will be available from AT&T from September 18th. The Xperia Play will make use of AT&T’s 4G capability and those who were patient and waited for AT&T will have some nifty little benefits. Not only will the Play see the inclusion of 4G but, AT&T will have the Xperia Play in an exclusive “Stealth Blue” which hasn’t been spotted any where else. You will also get the Sony Ericsson Multimedia Dock DK300 with AT&T’s Xperia Play.

The pre-installed games on AT&T’s Xperia Play is slightly different to what Verizon customers have. The “PlayStation Phone” will have Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave, Star Battalion, The Sims 3, Asphalt 6 Adrenaline, Madden NFL 11, Tower Bloxx: My City and Crash Bandicoot preinstalled.

AT&T are also offering the Xperia Play for considerably less than Verizon. You will be able to pick the handset up for $49.99 with a two year contract.

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After a couple of months of being on sale round the world, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is now available through the US. However if you’re looking into picking the handset up, you will have to fork out the full price of the handset. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is available for $600 unlocked from the Sony Store. It will work on AT&T and T-Mobile but, T-Mobile 3G won’t be supported unfortunately.

As of yet, a carrier is yet to pick up the Arc, so there are no monthly deals, or subsidized handset pricing, just the flat out $600. Hopefully a network carrier will pick the handset up soon, making owning the Xperia Arc, an affordable option.

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We previously heard by way of a tipster, that AT&T were to discontinue the Xperia X10, presumably to make way for the Xperia Arc and Xperia Play. At the time however, this wasn’t confirmed but, none the less, left many Xperia X10 owners with AT&T, worried that their handset would not receive the Android 2.1 update which was first released back at the end of October. This has now been further called in to question, as AT&T are no longer selling the Xperia X10. Well not brand new models any way.

The AT&T site shows that only refurbished Xperia X10 models are available, meaning that it seems AT&T are pulling the plug on Sony Ericsson’s first Android powered handset. This also means that the network carrier may not approve or release any further updates provided by Sony Ericsson for the Xperia X10, including the already released Android 2.1 update, not to mention the dual touch update. A petition has been started urging AT&T to honor their upgrade promises with regards to the Android 2.1 upgrade on the X10.

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While AT&T may have had the Xperia X10 and many assumed AT&T will also get the exlusive rights on the Xperia Play, it seems that the gaming handset will be making it’s way to Verizon and only Verizon. A Wirefly comparison suggests that upon the launch of the Xperia Play, the only network the handset will be available on will be Verizon. The comparison also highlights the arrival of the iPhone 4 on the Verizon network but, also lists the iPhone on AT&T, which isn’t the case for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

While the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and Xperia Arc have only just been announced, it seems AT&T are giving the X10 it’s marching orders already. Apparently, AT&T have provided an “end of life” date for the Xperia X10, Sony Ericsson’s first Android handset.

According to a tipster at AndroidCentral, AT&T have given the X10 an eol date of March 6th. Could they be making way for the Xperia Arc or Play in place of the X10? Either way, one thing this will leave many wondering is, whether AT&T will actually release the 2.1 update for the X10, or any future updates released for the Xperia X10.