SonyEricsson to Invade US With Android Devices

RadioRaiders · Feb 14, 2011

Interesting interview with the CEO of SonyEricsson. It looks like SE is planning to increase their presence in the US. It looks like more US carriers, especially Verizon, are getting interested in offering SE devices to their customers.

On a side note, the new SE Xperia Play really looks great. How come nobody has made a "gaming phone" before? Seems like a natural idea.

CNET: You just announced the Xperia Play smartphone tonight, which has been dubbed the Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone. It's one of the first iconic devices from the company to launch in the U.S. And it's the first device you're selling on Verizon Wireless. Why the U.S. and why Verizon?

Nordberg: We've always launched products in Europe and then the U.S. But we've learned that the U.S. won't take a device unless they're first. So the strategy has turned around. As I said before, we're seeing a lot of activity in mobile happening in California now. It's why we moved our CTO and chief creative team from Europe to the U.S. So I now have two executive teams reporting to me from California. This is not a joke. Operators in the U.S. know we are serious about this market and we're coming to them.

CNET: So why launch with Verizon Wireless first? You've offered other Sony Ericsson devices on GSM carriers in the U.S., such as AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

Nordberg: Verizon Wireless is such a big player in the U.S. market, so it's become very important. And also Verizon is a great company with a good network. It doesn't mean that they will be alone in offering this device. We're not big on exclusivity. So I think we should remain open.

CNET: Some handset makers have lamented about how difficult it is to get into an American carrier. What's your take on this?

Nordberg: They (U.S. operators) have 23,000 different things you have to do be allowed on their networks. So it's damn difficult to get in there. There is a lot of coding and special adaptation that needs to be done. And they only accept very good phones in the network. But once you get in, the investment is done. So we hope that is step one.

CNET: As you've stated, it's not easy to break into a U.S. carrier. So how did you do it with Verizon?

Nordberg: One of our parent companies is Ericsson, and that's how we got in. Ericsson sells LTE gear to Verizon. And Ericsson also bought some networking businesses from Nortel, which also sold to Verizon. So we could build a relationship from that. Then we started to show them the phones. And they loved the Xperia Play.
Click to expand...

Sony Ericsson looking to be No.1 Android maker (Q&A) | Mobile World Congress - CNET Reviews

spleck · Feb 14, 2011

RadioRaiders said: ↑

On a side note, the new SE Xperia Play really looks great. How come nobody has made a "gaming phone" before? Seems like a natural idea.
Click to expand...

You forgot all your smileys.

The problem will be that Sony is like Nintendo... they want you to pay $40 for your cell phone games.

Kotaku, the Gamer

The word is games "under $10", but we'll see how that works out. If it took a M2 card and played real PSP/PSPGo games, then they could probably sell droves of them.

RadioRaiders · Feb 14, 2011

spleck said: ↑

The problem will be that Sony is like Nintendo... they want you to pay $40 for your cell phone games. .
Click to expand...

True, price of games will be a big factor, if games are priced at $40 they'll be shooting themselves in the foot. Don't forget this is still an Android device, with access to games on the Android Market as well, most of which are free or cheap.

josephd · Feb 14, 2011

Sony Ericsson has a great device, I have had good luck with their phones. It will be interesting to see what they have to offer with Verizon.

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