14 DAY TRIAL // Good news for Xperia fans, as Sony recently confirmed it has no plans to exit the smartphone business. Previous reports indicated the Japanese company will decide next year whether or not to sell its mobile division to the highest bidder.
However, Focus Taiwan reports that Sony Mobile's general manager Jonathan Lin confirmed Sony Mobile CEO Hiroki Totoki denied the rumors during a meeting with him in Japan on October 19.
According to Totoki, Sony has no plan to withdraw from the smartphone market. Moreover, the Japanese company wants to expand its mobile business in emerging markets and territories where it's not yet present.
“On the contrary, Sony Mobile will offer phones that will have better screens, improved cameras and will be more energy efficient to enable a better user experience,” stated Lin during a press event in Taiwan.
Totoki's statement comes after earlier this month Sony's CEO Kazuo Hirai said that his company would continue to be present in the mobile industry “as long as we are on track with the scenario of breaking even from next year onwards. Otherwise, we haven't eliminated the consideration of alternative options.”
Sony Mobile expects a huge loss this year
In the meantime, Sony continues the global rollout of its Xperia Z5 lineup in various countries. The Japanese handset maker is expected to announce a $480 million (€445 million) loss this year for its mobile division.
The new figure is much higher than the initial $323 million (€292 million) the company forecast back in April.
Sony Mobile hasn't been successful in the United States, where the Japanese company has less than 1% market share.
In comparison, Sony Mobile's Japan market has already reached 17.5% in the last couple of months. Let's hope the Xperia Z5 lineup will bring Sony's more market share in territories where the Xperia brand isn't that popular.