Pocket-lint's Amber Maitland reports today on Sony's launch of Mylo (for "my life online"), a device that "does everything but take photographs."

Mylo works over 802.11b Wi-Fi, and comes preloaded with JiWire's hotspot directory. It's designed specifically for instant messaging and VoIP, with Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger and Skype all included.

The device includes a QWERTY keyboard and a 2.4-inch color LCD screen, and has 1GB of internal memory along with support for Memory Stick Duo cards. As an audio player, Mylo supports MP3, ATRAC and WMA files.

"As soon as Mylo is switched on, it searches for available wireless networks," Maitland writes. "Then it lets you chat via instant messenger, browse the web, view photographs, send and receive emails, or make phone calls via Skype."

But PC Magazine's Sascha Segan points out that Mylo, which seems designed as a non-cellular competitor to the T-Mobile Sidekick, has some significant weaknesses. It doesn't support AIM, the most popular instant messaging system, and it isn't a cell phone. Who needs a second device when you have to have a cell phone in your pocket?

"While functioning as a Skype phone is the Mylo's most intriguing aspect, it's going to have trouble drawing kids away from their T-Mobile Sidekicks," Segan writes. "The Sidekick costs less, and though it doesn't have Wi-Fi, it doubles as a cell phone."