Sony has confirmed that its entry-level Xperia E Dual is making its way to the United States. The $199 device, which offers a 3.5-inch scratch-resistant display and dual-SIM functionality, will be shipping from March 3. Sony has begun accepting orders for the device via its online store.

The Xperia E Dual is already available in parts of Europe, but it hasn’t yet ventured across the Atlantic. That will happen next month, however, giving customers the chance to pick up Sony’s latest entry-level device.

Available in black and champaign, the Xperia E Dual offers a 3.5-inch scratch-resistant display with a 480×320 resolution, HSDPA connectivity, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and 512MB of RAM. The handset also offers 4GB of internal storage — expandable via the microSD card slot, a 1,500 mAh battery, Bluetooth, and DLNA.

As for cameras, the Xperia E Dual has a 3.2-megapixel shooter on its back, and a VGA quality camera on its front. Its biggest selling point, however, is its dual-SIM functionality, which gives users the ability to use two SIM cards simultaneously.

Dual-SIM phones are nothing new, but they appear to be becoming more and more popular, with most smartphone manufacturers now offering a dual-SIM device. Not only are they great for traveling, but they’re also an ideal solution for those who need to juggle private and professional numbers at once.

Unfortunately, Sony still hasn’t announced a U.S. release date for its latest flagship, the Xperia Z yet. But as soon as we hear anything, we’ll be sure to update you.

• SourceSony