Sony Ericsson is gearing up to release mid-level phone the Athena in Q3 this year. The upcoming device was revealed earlier this year as part of Sony Ericsson's 2009 line-up, and is a red candybar model that ought to please users looking for a new handset that looks good but won't break the bank.

However, the name Athena may change - though the mobile's technical name is the S312. Sony Ericsson could be developing the handset as part of what many mobile manufacturers, including Samsung and Motorola, are embracing - the creation of new lower-end phones that are affordable while still packing decent features.

The economic recession in the UK has hit many mobile phone customers, and it is possible people looking for a new handset may not have the cash to splurge on a more feature-driven model. On the other end of the scale, it has been reported several times that the smartphone market is still going from strength to strength.

Smartphones are often comprised of top-level devices including features like internet access, GPS and application downloads, and they, signify that the recession has not stopped people from upgrading to bigger and better phones.

Smartphone companies Research in Motion - creator of the BlackBerry - and Apple, which manufactures the famous iPhone, have shot to popularity within the smartphone market, proving to be a powerful challenge to global mobile giant Nokia.

The Sony Ericsson Athena is expected for a Q3 release in the UK. No pricing details have yet been revealed.