Sony is close to buying Ericsson's half of the pair's mobile phone business, Sony Ericsson.

That's according to the Wall Street Journal (via Gamasutra), which was told by sources supposedly familiar with matter that Sony plans to integrate its smartphone business with its gaming, tablet and PC units to cut costs and better synchronise its product development strategy.

Analysts told the site Sony may have to pay between $1.3 and $1.7 billion to acquire control of the sixth-largest mobile phone manufacturer, which was created as part of a 50-50 joint venture ten years ago. The report follows April's launch of Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play, a gaming-focused, PlayStation certified phone Sony was reportedly resistant to for some time.

According to the report's sources, Ericsson had wanted to release a PlayStation phone "for years", but Sony executives "dragged their heels" over letting its partner handle the brand.


Posted: Oct 07, 2011 4:22 pm

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/321569/sony-to-buy-ericsson-out-of-joint-venture-for-over-1-billion-report/