Sony Mobile’s appetite for its smartphone business is often questioned. Sony has plenty of loyal fans that want to see the company deliver great mobile products, but in recent years volumes have shrunk rather than grown. This has led to rumours, that Sony might just shutter its mobile operations if things don’t turn around.
This is unlikely to be the case according to Sony CEO Kaz Hirai, who doesn’t believe Sony Mobile should throw in the towel according to an interview with The Guardian. Kaz says that they need to be in smartphones, otherwise it “won’t have the opportunity to play in the next paradigm shift” in the communication space. Judging by the quotes, it sounds like Kaz is looking at what is beyond smartphones, although no one really knows exactly what that is right now.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai on smartphones
“The reason we’re doing that is not because we think smartphones are the future, but because we have to have some devices connected to a network in order to communicate. If we get out of the [communications] space, we won’t have the opportunity to play in the next paradigm shift.
“It’s not about the smartphones of today; it’s more about looking beyond smartphones – at what are we going to be doing – and to be a player in this space; ideally to be a leader. For that strategic reason, I want to make sure we stay, not in the smartphone business, per se, but in the communications business.”
Via The Guardian.
