Samsung is not the only mobile manufacturer looking to downsize operations, Sony has also set out a new three-year plan to redevelop the mobile business, interested in making more profit and less smartphones.
The move comes after several years of losses in the mobile industry. This year is no different, with the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact — two excellent smartphones for everyday users — panning in sales compared to competitors.
In the three year plan, Sony talks about moving towards image sensor and gaming markets on mobile, instead of selling dozens of different smartphones in one year. The plan is to make the business profitable, while downsizing and potentially losing mobile market share.
Sony is still a leader in Japan and some other Asian countries, alongside Apple. In Taiwan, for instance, the Xperia Z3 is the second best selling phone of October, just behind the iPhone 6.
These small markets are not enough to keep Sony’s research and development labs running and not enough to continuously pump out smartphone after smartphone ever six months, to be shunned by the consumers for Apple and Samsung product.
It is unknown how many Sony smartphones sales were achieved this year. The Japanese company did not come in the top five smartphone brands, and from what we know Sony is not even in the top eight — companies like LG and ZTE stand in front.
Sony is well known for cameras, on mobile, this is no different. The company specialises in high-grade rear cameras and has worked with various manufacturers to create the sensors, an industry Sony will expand in 2015.
Does this mean we will not see the Xperia Z4? We are unsure on Sony’s final moves, it looks like the company is just downsizing, not outright moving away from mobile manufacturing.
