Sony Ericsson may be laying off another potential 2,000 workers some time soon in an effort to restore profitability at the troubled mobile phone maker. The move to axe 2,000 staff and contractors in 2009 from the 10,000-strong workforce follows hard on the heels of last year’s removal of 2,000 jobs. It underlines how Dick Komiyama, Sony Ericsson’s president, is developing a reputation as an aggressive cost-cutter.

The handset maker owned by Japan’s Sony and Sweden’s Ericsson on Friday reported a net loss of €293m ($381m) for the first three months of 2009, because consumers are buying fewer mobile phones in the global recession.

Mr Komiyama last year set out plans to reduce Sony Ericsson’s annual operating expenses by €480m, partly by cutting 2,000 jobs, or 17 per cent of the workforce. All the world’s leading handset makers are braced for falling sales in 2009, but Sony Ericsson is feeling more pain than larger rivals such as Nokia, Samsung and LG.

Sony Ericsson is experiencing a deeper unit sales decline than Nokia partly because it does not make cheap mobiles. Consumers are “trading down” to low-priced mobiles . Sony Ericsson is also suffering because it has a weak range of smartphones – mobiles that double up as mini computers – compared with traditional rivals and new entrants such as Apple.

Sony Ericsson reported revenue of €1.7bn for the three months to March 31, down 36 per cent on the same period last year. The net loss of €293m compared with a net profit of €133m in the first quarter of 2008.

(Source) FT.com

Tags: axe 2, Business, Cell Phones, consumers, decline, dick, First Quarter, first three months, global recession, handset makers, hard on the heels, mini computers, mobile phone maker, mobile phones, net profit, operating expenses, profitability, reputation, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, traditional rivals, workforce

In a move to help speed up the 3G transition phase in China, Qiao Xing Mobile has announced the need for 200 new engineers to compose the team that will accelerate its 3G mobile phone R&D. The new personnel will spearhead the Company’s research, design, development and commercialization of 3G network- compatible handsets, with a focus on TD-SCDMA and WCDMA products.

Mr. Wu Zhiyang, chairman of Qiao Xing Mobile, commented, “In 2009, CECT is scheduled to launch several exciting new 3G models. Currently, the VEVA T3 is in operational test with China Mobile, the largest operator in China. And our VEVA F1 has already passed a qualification test and been selected into the first WCDMA model list of China Unicom, another Chinese operator.”

Mr. Wu continued, “The advent of the 3G era brings a big wave of development opportunities for Chinese mobile handset makers. Analysts forecast the rapid rollout of 3G networks in China means the demand for 3G phones with advanced user interface and web-friendly functionalities will rise at a double-digit-figure for the next few years.

Although the financial crisis had an adverse impact on the high-tech and telecom industries, we believe it presents opportunities for us to recruit top R&D talents from the outside. With four Company-owned and operated specialty retail stores in Beijing and many more to come, and our 3G phone bundling agreements with Chinese operators, we are well-positioned to lead our industry with the most innovative mobile handset products and seize this historic opportunity brought by 3G.”

(Source) Press

Tags: 3g mobile phone, 3g networks, 3g phone, Business, Cell Phones, compatible handsets, digit figure, handset makers, Mobile News, mobile phone development, telecom industries, zhiyang

It looks like Facebook is preparing to broaden its scope of coverage once again and mobile phones are their next target.

In a statement released by Facebook officials, the company is currently looking for partnerships with mobile phone manufacturers and wireless service providers in order to get closer to its users by bringing more of its social networking services to mobile devices.

Devices such as the BlackBerry and Apple’s iPhone already provide users with the possibility to post updates and send messages on the popular social network’s Web site.

Still, Facebook is looking to take it further and allow its users to do many more actions, such as the feature of merging one’s phone contact list with the list of Facebook friends. The long term plan is to bring as many features to mobile devices as possible.

Tags: Apple, BlackBerry, Business, Cell Phones, facebook friends, handset makers, iPhone, mobile devices, mobile phone manufacturers, mobile phones, partnerships, social networking, wireless service providers