The end is nigh for Sony Ericsson. The Japanese-Swedish tie-up is no more, after Sony stumped up just shy of £1 billion to buyout Ericsson’s 50 per cent stake and reenter the mobile market as a solo player, ten years after it hooked up with the Swedish firm. What does this mean for Sony fans and smartphone lovers? Read on and find out.
For that billion pound price tag, Sony not only gets a 100 per cent say over its future mobile developments, it also gets its mitts on five patent portfolios. These will be vital if it wants to reassert itself as a player in the smartphone space.
Sony’s CEO Sir Howard Stringer said this would be a win for gadget lovers. “This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want,” he said.
Talking up Sony’s so-called ‘four screen strategy’, Stringer added in a statement that, “We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network.”
Mention of the PlayStation Network will doubtless set tongues wagging as to whether Sony plans to make the fabled PlayStation Phone. The Xperia Play, billed as that very device, doesn’t come with PlayStation branding and lacks the complete Sony gaming experience.
Homepage image via Kalleboo
