Sony Ericsson faces uncertain future

August 29, 2016

Voices at the top of Sony have cast doubt over the future of the company’s joint mobile phone venture with telecoms group Ericsson.

Sony CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, has admitted that it could be time to reconsider the future of Sony Ericsson after a ‘difficult year’ for the business.

Sony has lowered its profit forecast for the coming financial year to 17% because of poor mobile phone sales.

In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Stringer said it is crucial to be ‘nimble’ in the digital age, and added that it is very difficult to be nimble in a joint venture because you’re always engaged in discussion and negotiation.

He went on to say that the venture must do better if it is to continue.

However, Sony also has a goal of having 90% of its devices connected to the internet by 2011. This seems impossible to achieve without keeping its claws in the mobile phone business.