Sony has apparently told its mobile phone-making partner, Ericsson (as in Sony Ericsson) that it can't use the PlayStation brand to slap on its products. It is reported that the Ericsson was planning a PSP phone. It approached Sony itself and presented the idea last year.
According to 'several sources close to the matter', Sony executives explained that the only way a PlayStation brand was going to go on a phone was if Sony made that phone.
If Sony Ericsson's recent fortunes are anything to go by, this could be sooner rather than later. According to The Times, "In total, the joint venture between Sony and Ericsson lost €73 million in 2008 compared with a profit of €1.1 billion the previous year".
The Money Times reports that, "The company posted a loss of about $245 million (£167m) in the fourth quarter, drastically down from the $495 million (£337m) profit in the year-ago period."
Asked to comment, an Ericsson spokeslady spewed forth the following marketing guff, "In the past, we have been keen that our product proposition lives up to brand promise, and we feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone."
With Ericsson looking shaky and Sony needing to extend its PlayStation brand to compete with Nintendo and Microsoft, the promise of a PSP Phone only if Sony makes one itself could be drawing closer.
According to 'several sources close to the matter', Sony executives explained that the only way a PlayStation brand was going to go on a phone was if Sony made that phone.
If Sony Ericsson's recent fortunes are anything to go by, this could be sooner rather than later. According to The Times, "In total, the joint venture between Sony and Ericsson lost €73 million in 2008 compared with a profit of €1.1 billion the previous year".
The Money Times reports that, "The company posted a loss of about $245 million (£167m) in the fourth quarter, drastically down from the $495 million (£337m) profit in the year-ago period."
Asked to comment, an Ericsson spokeslady spewed forth the following marketing guff, "In the past, we have been keen that our product proposition lives up to brand promise, and we feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone."
With Ericsson looking shaky and Sony needing to extend its PlayStation brand to compete with Nintendo and Microsoft, the promise of a PSP Phone only if Sony makes one itself could be drawing closer.
Companies:
Sony
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