This morning we were invited to a breakfast event highlighting the features, future, and potential of the Sony Experia X1.

The company demonstrated panels are for customizing the phone experience. There are nine of them on the desktop, and you can change the panel to a mulitmedia interface with the touch of a button. And while you can use the touchscreen for navigation the optical scroll mechanism seems to work well.

Here are the highlights from the panel discussion, including the Q&A.

Vassili Philippov for Spb software: Sees his friends buying it because it’s sexy. Changes the demographic for Windows Mobile. No longer just the geek who is a buyer. Should be a breakthrough for those who otherwise wouldn’t buy it.

Scott Rockfield, Group Product Manager, Windows Mobile: Truly is a milestone for us and the industry, combining Sony Ericsson’s design expertise with Microsoft’s software and services. Get entertainment experience but still excepted by IT department. A win on both sides. The SDK shows that Sony Ericsson can build on top of a flexible platform. Super excited about the partnership. For the consumer it’s about choice and the X1 pushes that envelope.

Alex Bloom, VP of Content, Handango: Will drive users to continually consume more applications, which has been a problem in the past. Windows Mobile makes it an easier path for developers. Can personalize device beyond ringtones. Use Facebook.

Jens Greve, Senior Manager and Head of Sony Ericsson Developer World: Can put the applications you want up front. Panels allow you to do that. Can personalize the phone any way you want. Wants users to be able to create their own panels. (Now we’re talking.) Wants to create HTML panels as well as native panels for Windows Mobile. Important to engage professional developers and consumers.

Rammath Bhat, Sony Ericsson: Giving best-in-class experience. Philosophy behind panel is convergence of users. People today lead multiple lives and they want control. Main goal is to handle convergence of different types of users. Each person will have her own desktop. Giving power back to the user. Panels provide Instant notification of info, not just shortcuts.

Key is that you can use this device in all aspects in your life. SDK should be embraced by Windows Mobile community but also Web developers. If you launch an experience, it’s always on the desktop. Not launching and then closing it. All the shortcuts to Google should be on my desktops. With social networking you should be able to post and reply immediately with Facebook panel. Get information instantly.

Q&A Highlights:

Would you consider opening up panel SDK and interface to other Windows Mobile devices?

Bhat: First going to make it available to all Xperia phones but other opportunities will be explored.

Media player looks like PS3 and PSP, is it unique?

Bhat: Have our own media player. But Windows Media player still on board.

What’s the difference between this and the iPhone apps/icons?

Bhat: The iPhone concept is just one of the panels Spb developed for us.

Philippov: One person might be more about appointments and tasks to do. There are different categories of people and they want different things. I want to see different things when I travel. We have different parts of our lives and we switch to them, nine parts of your life you can switch between. That’s what you want to see when you switch the device on. In different times of your day you want to see different things.

How are panel applications going to be distributed?

Bloom: Will be available through Handango. Showcase area for panels will work with industry leaders. Will be a Sony Ericsson Channel.

But how do you encourage developers who are looking at other platforms like Android and iPhone?

Bloom: There will be a lower hurdle for ROI than for Android. But developers will have to prioritize.