Earlier this year, some reports suggested that Sony would consider exiting the mobile business, with Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai even saying that he wouldn’t “rule out considering an exit strategy” for mobile. However, Sony Mobile’s head wants you to know that his division isn’t going anywhere.
In an interview with Arabian Business, Sony Mobile CEO and President Hiroki Totoki discusses all of the work he’s put into his mobile group since being heading it up in November 2014. That includes decreasing costs and laying off workers, with plans to cut 2100 mobile jobs by the end of 2015. Totoki says that Sony “will never ever sell or exit from the current mobile business,” though, citing the importance of smartphones of everyday life and the rise of Internet of Things products.
Despite being a well-known brand, Sony hasn’t garnered a ton of success in mobile in recent years. That could be due to a few different factors, such as limited US carrier availability when compared to its rivals and smartphones that typically seem to get good-but-not-great reviews. Sony Mobile CEO Totoki seems committed to sticking around, though, promising a “big transformation” in 2015 that’ll lead to better financial performance in 2016. What will be interesting is seeing if Sony’s got any big plans for its smartphones, too.
What do you think Sony could do to gain more commercial success in mobile?