Sony Corporation (ADR)(NYSE:SNE) Mobile CEO
Kunimasa Suzuki has told German newspaper Die Welt that the company does not
have any plans to utilize Microsoft Corporation(NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Windows
Phone 8 software in the near future. Speculations about a Sony-Microsoft
alliance over the newest version of Windows had risen last week after a
regional head of Sony Mobile made vague references of Sony collaborating with
Microsoft on smartphones.
But Suzuki’s comments have put all theories to
rest as he has cleared Sony’s position regarding its involvement with the
Windows Phone 8 software. Windows Phone 8 software has further stated that Sony
has always been transparent in its partnerships. Sony tablets and VAIO laptops
use Microsoft’s technology, but Android remains the top choice for Xperia
smartphones. However, Sony is not a one-partner company and has been making
inquiries with Microsoft for the purpose of product diversification.
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Sony does not wish to incorporate even its own
operating system into their smartphone models. They are pretty satisfied with
the performance of Google’s Android platform and that is something they wish to
retain for now. Sony is planning to shift its global mobile headquarters from
Lund, Sweden, to Tokyo, which will mean a downsizing of 15% of the personnel in
Sony Mobile. ABI Research reported that Sony Mobile was the eleventh-largest
handset maker worldwide and had a 2% market share.
Too bad for Sony. They keep making poor decisions and losing money. On the other hand, takes guts to go up against Nokia, who are ruling the Windows Phone roost right now.
ReplyDeletePulling out of Sweden for some exclusive Japan-think is, to me as an European, not what I call an open field of view. Its the final leg of the purchase of Sony from its partnership with Ericsson.
ReplyDeleteI've come to appreciate Sony products over time, but few of their hardware is actually made in Japan (that, my friend, is a mistake - Japanese manufacture squashes whatever is done in China), and pure Japan-think-but-made-in-China does not work with me.
Sony needs to be global, but more Japanese and European, and less Chinese.
More Japan-Scandinavia-Germanic thinking, with an accent on quality of product and ease of use, and more emphasis on quality components.