Sony Ericsson Plans High-End Phones to Revive Sagging Sales
Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:04 am
Sony Ericsson plans to roll out three high-end devices -- including the Satio, a 12.1-megapixel camera phone -- in the fourth quarter to lift its sagging sales and expand its market share.
The joint venture between Japan's Sony and Sweden's Ericsson said its new Satio smartphone offers a 12.1-megapixel camera and is built around the Symbian operating system that allows users to install a wide range of applications.
The Aino offers high-end audio and video with the ability to integrate the device with Sony's PlayStation 3 console.
The Yari is tailored for games, featuring gesture and motion controls to for an enhanced interaction.
The struggling phone maker's market share has fallen to 5.4 percent from 7.5 percent a year earlier due to its lack of high-end handsets.
In the same period, Nokia maintained its market-leading position, helped in part by its 5800 touch screen smartphone. The Finland-based company will further reinforce its portfolio when it releases its new flagship smartphone, the N97, later this month.
Meanwhile South Korea's Samsung Electronics gained ground in the first quarter thanks to demand for touch screens such as its Omnia smartphone, while iPhone maker Apple doubled its market share.
Rather than basing a handset around a single feature such as the Walkman audio or the Cybershot camera brand, the Sony Ericsson plans to load the handsets with multiple features.
The Satio will retail at about $800, while the Aino will sell for $670 and the Yari for $470.
