Pop quiz: When's the last time you thought about buying a Sony Ericsson handset? I'm betting it's been years.
The joint venture between Japanese gadget guru Sony
So what's a network equipment builder doing in a handset venture anyway? The Wall Street Journal and Reuters report that the partnership is due for renewal in October but Sony might as well just buy out its decade-long partner and grab the steering wheel with both hands.
An Ericsson spokesperson told Reuters to go fish: "We have a long-term commitment to our joint ventures."
OK, fine. Ten years is a long time -- it just happens to be in the rearview mirror now. Analyst firm Bernstein says that selling its half of the equation would be good for Ericsson, "whatever price they agree on." Ouch.
As for Sony, those ubiquitous secret insiders say that the company has held back the handset venture for fears of diluting established brands like PlayStation and Walkman, paired with an unwillingness to share profits with the Swedes. Yes, Sony Ericsson is profitable today thanks to a newfound love of Android gadgets; no, the profits might not last long. While even failing, flailing Research In Motion
The deal rumors were met by Ericsson investors with open arms, sending shares up by nearly 8% on Thursday. Sony, on the other hand, barely kept pace with the market.
Smartphones outsell PCs these days, and their projected growth rate in the coming years looks stunning. While I wouldn't bet real money on Sony in this market, camera-chip maker OmniVision Technologies