Sony CEO says future uncertain for Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson has had a “difficult year” according to Sony’s Chief Executive Officer Sir Howard Stringer, who admits it might be time to reconsider its future.

Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt, Stringer said: “It’s certainly been a difficult year, but buying out a partner is never an easy thing… We have to work together again as we did two years ago or the joint venture will have to find its own solution.”

Sounds serious. And it is. Stringer neatly dodged questions over the mobile phone maker’s future as a part of Sony, stopping short of saying it could be offloaded in the future, and instead focussing on the need for speedier reactions to a changing market.

“One of the most important attributes in the digital age is to be nimble and it is hard to be as nimble in a joint venture as it is with your own company,” he explained.

Sounds like there are changes ahead for Sony Ericsson, and there are several hints there that Stringer is seriously considering ditching the joint venture altogether.

However, the Sony boss also has a self-set goal of connecting 90% of the company’s products to the web by 2011. Surely mobile connections will have a place somewhere in his plan to achieve it? Keep it here for updates as they happen.

TBC | £TBC | Sony

Related stories