
Sony's joint venture with mobile phone maker Ericsson must do better, Sony's chief executive was quoted as saying by a German newspaper.
Asked whether Sony is planning to end its Sony Ericsson joint venture, Howard Stringer told Die Welt: "It's certainly been a difficult year but buying out a partner is never an easy thing."
Sony lowered its group net profit forecast for the year to March by 17 percent, citing a slump at Sony Ericsson and weakening prospects for its electronics division amid tough price competition.
"We have to work together again as we did two years ago. Or the joint venture will have to find its own solution," Stringer said.
He added that it was hard for a company to be as nimble as possible when it works in a joint venture.
"You're always engaged in discussion and negotiation. We and Ericsson are always discussing ways of making Sony Ericsson as successful as it possibly can be," he said.
IT PRO recently tool a closer look at the issues facing the troubled Sony Ericsson venture.
Get the ITPro. daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Focus Report 2025 - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.
For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.

‘This shift highlights not just a continuation but a broad acceptance of remote work as the norm’: Software engineers are sticking with remote work and refusing to budge on RTO mandates – and 21% would quit if forced back to the office

Healthcare systems are rife with exploits — and ransomware gangs have noticed

ESET looks to ‘empower’ partners with cybersecurity portfolio updates