14 DAY TRIAL // Shortly after word about Samsung’s attempt to streamline its smartphone business by reducing the number of devices launched every year, another major handset maker seems to have decided to make the same move.
Sony is now trying to cut costs by slashing its TV and smartphone portfolios. Instead, the Japanese company promises to focus on PlayStation and image sensor businesses, Reuters reports.
Over the last couple of years, it has become clear that Sony won’t be able to regain the market share lost to its main competitors in the Android smartphone market.
While the Japanese company previously had some feeble attempts to cut cost by leaving some important markets that were not profitable such as the United States, it looks like that wasn’t enough to stop it from bleeding money.
Even though Sony’s portfolio is rather small in comparison with other major handset makers, the Japanese company has decided to make it even smaller.
No numbers have been confirmed yet, but we already know Sony plans to launch a single flagship smartphone per year rather than two. This means that the Xperia Z4 should be Sony’s top tier smartphone for the whole next year if previous rumors prove to be accurate.
According to Sony’s chief of mobile, Hiroki Totoki, his company is “not aiming for size or market share but better profits.”
The TV business will be streamlined as well, so fewer models will be launched yearly
On the other hand, Sony confirmed that it would focus on its videogame division and that, in order to boost sales, the PlayStation business would be strongly supported by “personalized TV, video and music distribution services.”
But that is not all, as the Japanese company plans to make profit on its devices division as well. Sony’s image sensor business could see increase by up to 70% thanks to major sales to big companies such as Apple, which is using them in iPhones.
It will be interesting to see how many Xperia smartphones Sony will be willing to bet on next year and the first details on the company’s plans will be revealed in early January at CES 2015 trade fair where the Xperia Z4 should be announced.
Although rumors claim the Xperia Z4 announcement will be accompanied by an Xperia Z4 Ultra reveal, due to the latest info coming from Sony’s officials, it now looks unlikely that Sony will indeed launch two high-end smartphones in the first quarter of 2015.
Still, anything is possible and Sony may indeed come forward with two high-end smartphones that will target two segments of the market. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.
